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SITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


Proposed  Charter 


FOR  THE 


City  of  St.  Louis 


Prepared  by  the 

Board   of   Freeholders 


Elected  by  the  People,  April  1,   1913 


May,  1914 


Wlsmi    Priiititifi;   <"■«.       '^!^>^^\      l,,ipv;,    M,, 


OV 


3"  =5 

STATEMENT  TO    THE  VOTERS       ^  ^  ^'V 


The  Board  of  Freeholders  was  elected  b\  the  i;euple  April 
1,  1913. 

They  at  once  rece)gni/.e(l  thai  liie  Charter  to  be  drafted  was 
the  people's  Charter,  that  the  peuple  should  be  consulted  as  to 
what  the  Charter  should  contain,  and  that  the  voters  were 
entitled  to  full  publicity  of  every  action  of  the  Board.  Conse- 
quently, through  the  press  by  general  in\itation  to  every  citi- 
zen, and  by  personal  invitation  to  the  present  and  former  City 
officers,  to  each  member  of  the  Municipal  Assembly  and  to  the 
various  business,  civic,  labor,  professional,  religicms,  social, 
political  and  other  organizations  throughout  the  entire  City, 
the  Board  earnestly  sought  suggestions  and  urged  their  sub- 
mission, either  orally  or  in  writing,  to  the  Board.  It  also 
sought  and  received  advice  from  recognized  students  and  ex- 
perts on  municipal  government  throughout  the  United  States. 
In  consequence,  from  Ai)ril  to  November,  twice  a  week  at  each 
'^  meeting  representati\e  citizens  and  expert  students  addressed 
r)        the  Board. 

In  response  to  a  City-wide  demand  for  a  correct  statement 
of  Charter  progress,  the  Secretary,  on  February  7,  1914,  sent 
such  a  statement  to  the  proper  officer  of  every  organization, 
civic,  business,  labor,  etc.,  listed  in  the  City  Directory.  On 
March  5th  a  tentative  draft  was  published  and  submitted 
personally  to  the  head  of  each  administrative  branch  of  the 
City,  asking  for  criticism  and  suggestions.  Another  re-print 
was  published  March  30th,  and  the  final  draft  was  adopted 
April  29th.  Pursuant  to  Ordinance  No.  27094,  each  article 
as  adopted  was  published  as  advertising  in  the  "New  St.  Loui.s 
Star"  and  the  "Westliche-Post"  and  published  in  the  other 
papers  as  news. 

Criticism  of  the  tentative  work  was  freely  asked  and  freely 
given.  In  many  cases  the  criticism  was  merited  and  conse- 
quently changes  were  made.  As  a  result  the  Charter  is  essen- 
tially the  draft  of  the  people ;  everyone  in  the  City  has  had  an 
opportunity  to  aid  in  formulating  the  Charter  provisions  and 
many  have  so  done.     The  important  provisions  include: 

1.  The  right  of  municipal  ownership  of  public  utilities  of 
any  kind  whatsoever  in  the  City — a  right  absolutely  denied  at 


210 


present.  Tlu-  C'ily  will  have  tlif  greatest  powers  possiMe,  in- 
c-liuliiig  the  rij^lit  lo  proviilc  I'm-  any  desired  huinanitariaii, 
educational,  charitable  and  recreative  service. 

2.  One  house  of  lej^islatioii  known  as  the  lioard  of  Alder- 
men. One  house  and  strict  ward  representati(jn  is  at  present 
impossible  under  the  Constitution  of  Missouri  (Article  IX,  Sec. 
22).  As  soon  as  the  Constitution  is  changed,  each  ward  will 
elect  its  own  Alderman,  ])ut  until  then  it  is  provided  that  each 
ward  shall  have  an  alderman  who  must  reside  in  the  ward  from 
which  elected,  but  he  will  be  nominated  and  elected  at  large. 
This  legislative  body  will  perform  legislative  duties  only.  Such 
administrative  matters  as  granting  permits  for  awnings,  drink- 
nig  fountains,  loading  platforms,  etc.,  now  granted  by  the 
Municipal  Assembly  by  ordinance,  will  be  handled  by  the  Ad- 
ministrative Body,  the  Board  (jf  l*ublic  Service,  who  will  be 
competent  administrators  and  liaxe  the  time  to  consider  each 
application. 

3.  The  Initiative  on  a  workable  basis — 5  per  cent  of  the 
registertid  voters  for  a  general  election  and  7  per  cent  for  a 
special.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  will  have  an  opportunity  to 
pass  initiated  ordinances.  If  not  so  passed,  the  proposed  ordi- 
nance shall  be  submitted  to  the  voters. 

4.  Referendum  on  ordinances.  No  ordinance  (except  strict 
emergency  measures)  will  take  effect  for  thirty  days  after 
adoption,  and  if  within  tliat  time  a  petition  signed  by  2 
per  cent  of  the  registered  voters  is  filed  with  the  Board 
of  Election  Commissioners  the  taking  effect  of  such  ordi- 
nance is  postponed.  Forty  days  more  are  allowed  to  secure 
an  additional  5  per  cent  for  submission  at  a  general  elec- 
tion or  an  additional  10  per  cent  for  a  special  election.  After 
the  petition  is  filed  the  Board  of  Aldermen  have  an  op- 
portunity to  repeal  such  ordinance.  If  they  do  not  repeal  it, 
then  its  adoi-tion  shall  be  submitted  to  the  voters. 

5.  All  elective  officers  may  be  recalled.  The  petition  must 
be  signed  by  20  per  cent  of  the  registered  voters,  with  20  per 
cent  of  such  voters  in  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  wards  of  the 
city.  No  recall  petition  may  be  filed  within  six  months  after 
one  takes  office.  This  will  prevent  such  petition  being  filed 
immediately  after  a  close  election  and  before  the  incumbent 
lias  had  an  oj^portunit}-  to  show  his  worth. 

Objection   to  the  recall   found    in    certain    Western    cities 


where  the  successor  may  be  elected  at  the  same  time  at  which 
the  question  of  the  incumbent's  recall  is  determined  is  obviat- 
ed. Such  an  election  confuses  the  issues.  Under  the  proposed 
Charter  the  sole  question  will  be  as  to  whether  the  incumbent 
shall  be  recalled. 

6.  The  eflficiency  provisions  will  require  applicants  for  ap- 
pointment or  promotion  to  show  their  qualifications  only  by 
such  fair  and  practical  tests  as  will  secure  and  retain  in  the 
employ  of  the  City  efficient  service.  All  City  officers  and 
emlpoyes  at  the  time  the  Charter  takes  effect  will  retain  their 
offices  and  not  be  required  to  take  an  examination  therefor. 
Under  the  proposed  plan,  the  Efficiency  Board  may  delegate 
to  practical  men  the  authority  to  test  applicants  and  certify 
back  results  in  order  to  insure  the  best  qualified  men  from  a. 
practical  standpoint.  The  appointing  officer  selects  one  of  the 
three  highest  on  the  eligible  list.  Elective  officers,  heads  of 
departments,  heads  of  divisions,  and  their  personal  assistants 
or  secretaries,  are  not  subject  to  the  efficiency  provisions. 

7.  The  administration  of  the  City  will  be  organized  on 
business  lines.  The  State  Constitution  provides  that  the 
voters  of  the  City  shall  elect  a  Chief  Executive.  Under  the 
proposed  Charter  the  Mayor  will  be  the  chief  executive.  He 
will  have  power  to  accomplish  results  and  will  be  responsible 
for  results  being  also  always  under  the  control  of  the  people 
through  the  Recall.  Under  the  present  system  of  checks  and 
balances  responsibility  is  beclouded  and  cannot  be  fixed. 

The  present  large  number  of  independent  departments  and 
offices  is  combined  according  to  their  functions,  so  as  to  insure 
efficiency  and  economy  in  operation.  The  Mayor,  Comptroller 
and  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  constituting  the 
Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment,  control  the  City's 
purse  strings.  A  separate  ordinance  for  salaries  of  employes 
may  be  submitted  separate  from  the  general  appropriation 
bill  to  prevent  the  annual  tie-up  of  salaries. 

8.  Provision  is  made  so  that  in  the  largest  measure  the 
individual  may  be  kept  informed  of  what  is  being  done  in 
every  department — and  may  have  the  right  to  suggest  or  criti- 
cise— and  a  Complaint  Board  is  established  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  promptly  investigate  the  complaint  of  any  citizen 
either  with  regard  to  the  conduct  of  the  City  government  or 
of  any  public  service  corporation. 

The  foregoing  is  necessarily  brief.  Many  other  excellent 
provisions  will  be  found  by  a  detailed  examination  of  the 
Charter. 

WILBUR  B.  JOXKS, 

May  6,  1914.  Secretary. 


CONTENTS 


Art 


Page 

clc  1  Corporate  Name  iind  I'nwers — Wards 1 

I I  Elections    4 

I I I  Recall - 5 

1  \  Board    of    Aldermen 7 

\  Initiative ■ 12 

\  I  Referendum    14 

VI I  Mayor  1 7 

\  1 1 1  Officers  ........: 19 

I X  Register _.. 22 

X  Law  Department 23 

XI  City  Marshal  23 

XII  City  Courts 24 

XI II  Board  of  Public  Service 25 

XI \'  Public  Welfare  Boards 32 

XV  Department  of  Finance _ 33 

X\'l  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment 41 

XV  1 1  City   Bonds .42 

XVIII  Efficiency    Board 45 

XIX  Franchises  _ _ 49 

XX  License    Taxes 51 

XXI  Condemnation  - 52 

XX I I  Public    Worlc , 58 

XXIII  Special  Tax  Bills 65 

XXIV  Improvement   Bonds   and   Funds 68 

XXV  General  and  Miscellaneous „ 70 

Schedule — _ 72 


ARTICLE  I. 

Corporate  Name  and  Powers — Wards. 

Section  1.  The  inhabitants  of  tlie  City  of  St.  Louis,  as  its 
limits  now  are  or  may  hereafter  be,  shall  be  and  continue  a  body 
corporate  by  name  "The  City  of  St.  Louis,"  and  as  such  shall 
have  perpetual  succession,  may  have  a  corporate  seal,  and  sue 
and  be  sued.    It  shall  have  power : 

(1)  To  assess,  levy  and  collect  taxes  for  all  general  and 
special  purposes  on  all  subjects  or  objects  of  taxation. 

(2)  To  adopt  such  classifications  of  the  subjects  and  objects 
of  taxation  as  may  not  be  contrary  to  law. 

(3)  To  make  special  assessments  for  local  improvements. 

(4)  To  contract  and  be  contracted  with. 

(5)  To  incur  debts  by  borrowing-  money  or  otherwise,  and 
to  give  any  appropriate  evidence  thereof. 

(6)  To  issue  and  give,  sell,  pledge  or  in  any  manner  dispose 
of,  negotiable  or  non-negotiable,  interest-bearing  or  non-interest- 
bearing  bonds  or  notes  of  the  city,  upon  the  credit  of  the  city, 
or  solely  upon  the  credit  of  specific  property  owned  by  the 
city,  or  solely  upon  the  credit  of  income  derived  from  and  prop- 
erty used  in  connection  with  any  public  utility  owned  or  oper- 
ated by  the  city,  or  solely  upon  the  credit  of  the  proceeds  of 
special  assessments  for  local  improvements,  or  upon  any  two 
or  more  of  such  credit":. 

(7)  To  expend  the  money  of  the' city  for  all  lawful  purposes. 

(8)  To  acquire  or  receive  and  hold,  maintain,  improve,  sell, 
lease,  mortgage,  pledge  or  otherwise  dispose  of  property,  real 
or  personal,  and  any  estate  or  interest  therein,  within  or  with- 
out the  city  or  State. 

(9)  To  condemn  private  property,  real  or  personal,  or  any 
easement  or  use  (herein  for  public  use  within  or  without  the 
city  or  State. 

(10)  To  take  and  hold  [)roperty  within  or  without  the  city 
or  State  upon  trust ;  and  to  administer  trusts. 

(11)  To  acquire,  construct,  own,  operate  and  maintain  or 
sell,  lease,  mortgage,  pledge  or  otherwise  dispose  of  public 
utilities  or  any  estate  or  interest  therein,  or  any  other  utility 
of  service  to  the  city,  its  inhabitants  or  anv  part  thereof. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  vSt.  Louis 


(12)  To  grant  franchises  for  public  utilities. 

CIS)  To  regulate  the  construction,  maintenance,  equipment, 
operation,  service,  rates  and  charges  of  public  utilities,  and 
compel,  from  time  to  time,  reasonable  extensions  of  facilities 
for  such  service. 

(14)  To  establish,  open,  re-locate,  vacate,  alter,  widen,  ex- 
tend, grade,  improve,  repair,  construct,  reconstruct,  maintain, 
light,  sprinkle  and  clean  public  highways,  streets,  boulevards, 
parkways,  sidewalks,  alleys,  parks,  public  grounds  and  squares, 
wharves,  bridges,  viaducts,  subways,  tunnels,  sewers  and 
drains  and  regulate  the  use  thereof. 

(15)  To  acquire,  provide  for,  construct,  regulate  and  main- 
tain and  do  all  things  relating  to  all  kinds  of  public  buildings, 
structures,  markets,  places,  works  and  improvements. 

(16)  To  provide  and  maintain  a  harbor  and  wharves  and 
regulate  the  use  thereof,  and  impose  wharfage  and  other  charges 
therefor ;  license  and  regulate  ferries  and  other  boats ;  grant  ferry 
privileges  and  regulate  ferry  charges ;  rent  or  lease  for  not 
exceeding  twenty-five  years  portions  of  the  wharf  for  any 
purpose  tending  to  facilitate  the  trade  of  the  city. 

(17)  To  improve  water  courses  and  regulate  the  use  thereof. 

(18)  To  establish,  impose  and  enforce  water  rates  and  rates 
and  charges  for  public  utilities  or  other  service,  products  or 
conveniences  operated,  rendered  or  furnished  by  the  city. 

(19)  To  provide  and  maintain  a  sanitary  system. 

(20)  To  provide  and  maintain  a  fire  department. 

(21)  To  provide  and  maintain  police  and  excise  depart- 
ments when  permitted  by  law. 

(22)  To  collect  and  dispose  of  sewage,  offal,  ashes,  garbage 
and  refuse,  or  to  license  and  regulate  such  collection  and  dis- 
posal. 

(23)  To  license  and  regulate  all  persons,  firms,  corpora- 
tions, companies  and  associations  engaged  in  any  business, 
occupation,  calling,  profession  or  trade. 

(24)  To  impose  a  license  tax  upon  any  business,  vocation, 
pursuit,  calling,  animal  or  thing. 

(25)  To  define  and  prohibit,  abate,  suppress  and  prevent  or 
license  and  regulate,  all  acts,  practices,  conduct,  business,  oc- 
cupations, callings,  trades,  uses  of  property,  and  all  other 
things  whatsoever  detrimental  or  liable  to  be  detrimental  to 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 


the  health,  morals,  comfort,  safety,  convenience  or  welfare  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  city,  and  all  nuisances  and  causes 
thereof. 

(26)  To  prescribe  limits  within  which  business,  occupations 
and  practices  liable  to  be  nuisances  or  detrimental  to  the  health, 
morals,  security  or  general  welfare  of  the  people  may  lawfully 
be  established,  conducted  or  maintained. 

(27)  To  inspect,  test,  measure  and  weigh  any  article  of  con- 
sumption or  use  within  the  city. 

(28)  To  establish,  regulate,  license  and  inspect  weights  and 
measures.  ,    ■.     ; 

(29)  To  regulate  the  construction  and  materials  of  all  build- 
ings and  structures;  and  to  inspect  all  buildings,  lands  and 
places  as  to  their  condition  for  health,  cleanliness  and  safety, 
and  when  necessary  prevent  the  use  thereof  and  require  any 
alterations  or  changes  necessary  to  make  them  healthful, 
clean  or  safe. 

(30)  To  abolish  or  prevent  grade  crossings  and  provide  for 
safe  crossings  and  compel  any  street,  steam,  electric  railroad 
or  other  transportation  company  or  companies  affected  thereby 
to  pay  all  or  a  part  of  the  cost  thereof. 

(31)  To  provide  for  the  support,  maintenance  and  care  of 
children  and  sick,  aged  or  insane,  poor  persons  and  paupers. 

(32)  To  provide  and  maintain  charitable,  educational,  recre- 
ative, curative,  corrective,  detentive  or  penal  institutions,  de- 
partments, functions,  facilities,  instrumentalities,  conveniences 
and  services. 

(33)  To  do  all  things  wliatsoever  expedient  for  promoting 
or  maintaining  the  comfort,  education,  morals,  peace,  govern- 
ment, health,  welfare,  trade,  commerce  or  manufactures  of 
the  city  or  its  inhabitants. 

(34)  To  enforce  any  ordinance,  rule  or  regulation  by  means 
of  fines,  forfeitures,  penalties  and  imprisonment  or  by  action 
or  proceeding  in  its  own  courts  or  in  any  other  court  of  com- 
petent jurisdiction  or  by  any  one  or  more  of  such  means,  and 
to  impose  costs  as  a  part  thereof. 

(35)  To  exercise  all  powers  granted  or  not  prohibited  to  it 
by  law  or  which  it  would  be  competent  for  this  charter  to 
enumerate. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 


Sec.  2.  The  enunieration  of  particular  powers  in  this  charter 
is  not  exclusive  of  others,  nor  restrictive  of  general  words  or 
phrases  granting  powers,  nor  shall  a  grant  or  failure  to  grant 
power  in  this  article  impair  a  power  granted  in  any  other  part 
of  this  charter ;  and  whether  powers,  objects  or  purf>oses  are  ex- 
pressed conjunctively  or  disjunctively  they  shall  be  construed  so 
as  to  permit  the  city  to  exercise  freely  any  one  or  more  such 
powers  as  to  any  one  or  more  such  objects  for  any  one  or  more 
such  purposes. 

Sec.  3.  The  City  is  hereby  divided  into  twenty-eight  wards, 
bounded  and  numbered  as  the  wards  of  the  city  now  are;  pro- 
vided, that  from  time  to  time  corrected  ward  boundaries  may 
be  established  by  ordinance  which  shall  comprise,  as  nearly 
as  practicable,  compact  and  contiguous  territory  within 
straight  lines,  and  contain  as  nearly  as  may  be  the  same  num- 
ber of  registered  voters. 

ARTICLE  II. 

Elections. 

Section  1.  A  general  city  election  shall  be  held  on  the  tirst 
Tuesday  in  April,  1915,  and  every  two  years  thereafter. 

Sec.  2.  At  the  general  city  election  in  1917,  and  every  four 
years  thereafter,  a  Mayor  and  a  Comptroller  shall  be  elected 
each  for  a  term  of  four  years  and  until  his  successor  qualifies. 

Sec.  3.  At  the  general  city  election  in  1915  one  Alderman 
from  each  odd-numbered  ward  shall  be  elected  for  a  term  of 
two  years,  and  at  the  same  election,  and  every  four  years  there- 
after, one  Alderman  from  each  even-numbered  ward,  and  a 
President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  shall  be  elected,  each  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  At  the  general  city  election  in  1917,  and 
every  four  years  thereafter,  one  Alderman  from  each  odd- 
numbered  ward  shall  be  elected,  each  for  a  term  of  four  years. 

Sec.  4.  Every  elective  City  officer,  including  the  President 
and  members  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  shall  be  elected  by  a 
general  ticket;  proznded,  that  whenever  the  constitution  and 
laws  of  the  State  permit,  each  Alderman  shall  be  elected  only 
by  the  voters  of  the  ward  from  which  he  is  elected. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 


Sec.  5.  The  Board  of  Election  Commissioners  shall  desig- 
nate the  day  for  holding  any  special  election  under  the  Initia- 
tive, Referendum  or  Recall  provisions  of  this  Charter. 

Sec.  6.  The  Board  of  Election  Commissioners  shall  cause 
a  notice  to  be  published  at  least  three  times  in  at  least  two 
daily  newspapers  in  the  City,  the  first  insertion  to  be  at  least 
twenty  days  prior  to  the  holding  of  any  election  under  the 
Initiative,  Referendum  or  Recall  provisions  of  this  Charter, 
such  notice  to  state  the  time  and  place  of  holding  such  elec- 
tion and  the  general  nature  of  each  proposition  or  ordinance 
to  be  voted  upon. 

Sec.  7.  Except  as  in  this  Charter  otherwise  provided,  all 
elections  shall  be  held  and  proceedings  had  in  relation  thereto 
as  may  be  provided  by  law  or  ordinance. 

Sec.  8.  All  necessary  expenses  incurred  in  preparing  for 
and  conducting  any  election  under  the  Initiative,  Referendum 
or  Recall  provisions  of  this  Charter  shall  be  paid  as  fol- 
lows: The  Board  of  Election  Commissioners  shall  prepare  its 
estimate  of  such  expenses  and  submit  same  to  the 
Board  of  Aldermen.  The  Mayor  and  Board  of  Aldermen  must 
then  appropriate  the  amount  so  estimated.  The  Board  of  Elec- 
tion Commissioners  shall  audit  and  approve  all  such  expenses 
so  incurred  and  certify  them  to  the  Comptroller,  who  must 
draw  his  warrant  therefor  on  the  Treasurer,  who  must  pay  the 
same.  If  no  appropriation  has  been  made  for  such  payment 
the  Treasurer  shall  charge  the  same  to  any  fund  not  otherwise 
appropriated  or  to  any  fund  available  therefor,  anything  in  this 
charter  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

Sec.  9.  Whenever  it  may  be  done  in  harmony  with  the 
State  Constitution  and  laws,  the  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  by 
ordinance  provide  for  and  regulate  municipal  elections  and 
registration  of  voters  and  may  provide  by  ordinance  for  non- 
partisan nominations,  preferential  voting,  or  proportional  rep- 
resentation. 

ARTICLE  III. 

Recall. 

Section  1.  Any  elective  officer  may  he  recalled  by  the 
voters  of  the  City,  or  if  he  shall  have  been  elected  by  the  voters 


C'liARTivR  ()V  THE  City  of  St.  Louis 


of  a  ward  or  district,  then  by  the  voters  of  such  ward  or  dis 
trict,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec  2.  A  petition  for  such  recall  .shall  be  signed  by  regis- 
tered voters  equal  in  number  to  twenty  per  cent  of  all  the 
registered  voters  of  the  City  at  the  time  of  the  last  preceding 
regular  mayoralty  election ;  provided,  that  in  such  number 
shall  be  included  twenty  per  cent  of  the  registered  voters  at 
said  time  in  each  of  at  least  two-thirds  of  the  wards  of  the 
City;  provided  further,  that  if  the  officer  shall  have  been 
elected  by  the  voters  of  a  ward  or  district,  the  petition  need 
be  signed  by  only  twenty  per  cent  of  all  the  registered  voters 
therein  at  the  time  of  said  mayoralty  election. 

Sec.  3.  The  signatures  need  not  all  be  appended  to  one 
paper,  but  all  papers  comprising  the  petition  shall  be  uniform 
in  character  and  shall  each  be  verified  by  affidavit  stating  that 
each  signature  thereto  was  made  in  affiant's  presence  by,  as 
affiant  verily  ■believes,  the  person  whose  name  it  purports  to 
be.  Each  signer  shall  state,  opposite  his  signature,  his  resi- 
dence address.  Any  person  shall  be  deemed  a  registered  voter 
whose  name  is  unerased  on  the  registration  books. 

Sec.  4.  Each  of  the  papers  comprising  the  petition  shall 
state  the  name  and  office  of  the  officer  whose  recall  is  sought 
and  ask  for  his  recall  before  any  signature  is  appended  thereto. 

Sec.  5.  All  .papers  comprising  the  petition  shall  be  assem- 
bled by  the  petitioners  and  filed  with  the  Board  of  Election 
Commissioners  as  one  instrument,  and  within  ten  days 
thereafter  said  Board  shall  find  and  certify  as  to  the  suffi- 
ciency of  the  petition,  stating  the  number  of  registered  voters 
signing.  If  the  petition  is  certified  to  be  insufficiently  signed, 
supplemental  papers  conforming  to  the  requirements  for  the 
orig-inals  may  be  filed  within  twenty  days  thereafter,  and  said 
Board,  within  ten  days  after  such  supplements  are  filed,  shall 
find  and  certify  as  to  the. sufficiency  of  the  petition,  so  supple- 
mented. If  found  still  insufficiently  signed,  no  further  supple- 
ment shall  be  allowed,  but  a  new  petition  may  be  filed. 

Sec.  6.  If  such  recall  petition,  with  supplements,  if  any,  be 
found  sufficient,  a  certificate  to  that  effect  shall  be  mailed  by 
said  Board  to  the  officer,  and  if  he  does  not  resign  within  t^n 


CilARlT.R  OF   TIIK  CiTV   Of   ST.    LoUIS 


days  after  such  mailing,  said  Board  shall  provide  for  submit- 
ting the  question  of  his  recall  at  the  first  election,  at  which  it 
may  lawfully  be  submitted,  not  less  than  thirty  nor  more  than 
ninety  days  after  such  mailing,  and  if  there  is  no  such  election, 
ihen  at  a  special  election  to  Ijc  held  within  such  ninety  days 
if  legally  possible,  otherwise  at  the  earliest  day  at  which  said 
question  may  be  submitted  at  either  a  general  or  special  elec- 
tion. Any  such  election,  at  any  stage  thereof,  shall  at  once 
be  discontinued  upon  the  death,  resignation  or  removal  of  the 
officer  whose  recall  is  in  question. 

Sec.  7.  The  ballot  shall  state  the  proposition,  "Shall  (name 
of  officer)  be  removed  from  the  office  of  (name  of  office)  ?"  and 
to  the  right  thereof,  in  bold  type,  the  words  "yes"  and  "no," 
one  above  the  other.  To  vote  for  the  recall  of  said  officer  tlie 
voter  shall  s.trike  out  the  w^ord  "no,"  and  to  vote  against  such 
recall,  the  word  "yes."  If  the  majority  of  the  votes  cast 
thereon  at  said  election  shall  be  in  favor  of  such  recall,  the 
office  shall  be  vacant  five  clays  thereafter. 

Sec.  8.  No  petition  shall  seek  the  recall  of  more  than  one 
officer,  but  several  propositions  for  recall  may  be  separately 
submitted  at  the  same  election  on  the  same  ballot. 

Sec.  9.  No  recall  petition  shall  be  filed  against  any  officer 
within  the  first  six  months  or  the  last  six  months  of  his  term 
nor  within  six  months  after  a  proposition  for  his  recall  has 
been  defeated  at  an  election. 

ARTICLE  IV. 
Board  of  Aldermen. 

Section  1.  The  legislative  power  of  the  City  shall,  subject 
to  the  limitations  of  this  Charter,  be  vested  in  a  Board  of 
Aldermen,  consisting  of  a  President,  elected  as  such  bv  gen- 
eral ticket  from  the  City  at  large,  and  twenty-eight  mem- 
bers, one  from  each  ward,  to  be  known  and  elected  bv  sjen- 
eral  ticket  as  Alderman  from  the  ward  from  which  elected. 

Sec.  2.  No  person  shall  become  an  Alderman  except  he  be 
a  voter  and  at  least  twenty-five  years  of  age  and  shall  have 
been  next  before  his  election  five  years  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  three  years  a  rp*^if1?'ii'  f^f  tlie  Citv,  two  vears  an  a.^- 


R  CnARTriK  ov  Tiir:  City  or  St.  Louis 

messed  taxpayer  of  the  City,  and  one  year  a  resident  of  the 
Avard  from  which  elected,  nor  who  shall  have  been  convicted 
of  malfeasance  in  ofifice,  bribery  or  other  corrupt  practice  or 
crime;  and  if  any  Alderman  shall  be  so  convicted  or  shall  at 
any  time  not  be  a  resident  of  such  ward  he  shall  thereby 
forfeit  his  ofifice.  The  salary  of  each  Alderman  shall  be  eighteen 
hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

Sec.  3.  The  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  pre- 
side at  all  its  meetings  and  have  the  qualifications  and  forfeit 
his  ofifice  for  the  causes  provided  with  regard  to  the  Mayor. 
TTis  salary  shall  be  three  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

Sec.  4.  Whenever  a  member  of  said  Board,  other  than  the 
President,  is  absent  from  a  meeting,  he  shall  forfeit  ten  dol- 
lars of  his  salary  and  such  forfeiture  shall  not  be  remitted  ; 
provided  that  forfeitures  by  one  member  shall  not  exceed 
eight  hundred  dollars  in  any  one  year. 

Sec.  5.  Any  vacancy  in  said  Board  shall  be  filled  for  the  un- 
expired term  at  the  next  general  City  or  State  election  held 
fifty  days  or  more  after  such  vacancy  occurs;  provided,  that 
whenever  three  or  more  vacancies  exist  in  said  Board  such 
vacancies  shall  be  filled  at  a  special  election  ;  but  no  such  spe- 
cial election  shall  be  held  within  three  months  prior  to  any 
general  City  or  State  election. 

Sec.  6.  Said  Board  shall  choose  from  its  membership  a 
Vice-President  to  act  in  case  of  the  absence,  disability  or  fail- 
ure to  act  of  the  President;  shall  choose  a  Clerk,  and  may 
select  any  other  ofificers  and  employes. 

Sec.  7.  Said  Board  shall  be  the  judge  of  the  qualifications 
of  its  members,  except  of  its  President,  and  a  majoritv  of  all 
its  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum,  but  a  smaller  number 
may  adjourn  from  day  to  day  and  may  compel  the  attendance 
of  absentees  in  such  manner  and  under  such  penalties  as  the 
Board  may  provide. 

Sec.  8.  Said  Board  may  determine  the  rules  of  its  pro- 
ceedings, subject  to  this  Charter;  arrest  and  punish  by  fine 
or  imprisonment  or  both,  any  member  or  other  person  guil- 
ty of  disorderly  or  contemptuous  behavior  in  its  presence ;  and 
with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  all   its  members,  expel 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 


a  member  for  cause,  after  notice  and  upon  a  hearing^.  It  shall 
have  power,  and  may  delegate  it  to  any  committee,  to  subpoena 
witnesses  and  order  the  production  of  books  and  papers  relat- 
ing to  any  subject  within  its  jurisdiction  ;  to  call  upon  its  own 
officer  or  the  City  Marslial  to  execute  its  process ;  and  to  arrest 
and  punish  by  fine  or  imprisonment  or  both  any  person  refus- 
ing to  obey  such  subpoena  or  order.  No  fine  for  any  one  of- 
fense under  this  section  shall  exceed  three  hundred  dollars 
nor  shall  any  imprisonment  for  any  one  ottense  exceed  ten 
days;  but  each  day's  continuance  in  any  refusal  as  aforesaid 
shall  be  a  separate  offense.  ]ts  presiding-  officer  or  the  chair- 
man of  any  committee  may  administer  oaths  to  witnesses.  It 
shall  keep  a  Journal  of  its  proceedings,  and  the  yeas  and  nays 
on  any  question  shall  at  the  desire  of  any  member  present  be 
entered  thereon.  The  proceedings  of  each  meeting  of  said 
Board  shall  be  published  within  five  days  in  the  paper  or 
papers  doing  the  City  publishing. 

Sec.  9.  One  session  of  said  Board  shall  be  held  annually, 
beginning  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  April,  and  the  Mayor  may 
by  three  days'  proclamation  convene  it  in  special  session.  All 
sessions  shall  be  public  and  in  the  City  Hall,  subject  lo  change 
of  place  in  case  of  emergency. 

Sec.  10.  The  style  of  ordinance  shall  be:  "Be  it  ordained 
by  the  City  of  St.  Louis,  as  follows:" 

Sec.  11.  No  ordinance  shall  be  passed  except  by  bill  and 
no  bill  shall  be  so  amended  in  its  passage  as  to  change  its 
original  purpose. 

Sec.  12.  No  ordinance  shall  be  revived  or  re-enacted  ex- 
cept by  bill  setting  it  forth  in  full,  nor  amended  except  by  bill 
setting  forth  the  ordinance  or  section  amended  in  full,  as 
amended. 

Sec.  13.  No  bill,  except  a  general  appropriation  bill 
which  shall  only  embrace  matters  on  account  uf  which 
moneys  are  appropriated,  shall  contain  more  than  one  sub- 
ject, which  shall  be  clearly  expressed  in  its  title. 

Sec.  14.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  at  any  mee'ing  iield 
thirty  days  or  more  after  any  bill  shall  have  been  referred  to 
a  committee,  shall,  on  motion  of  any  member,  determine  by 


10  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

the  yeas  and  nays  entered  on  the  Journal,  whether  such  com- 
mittee shall  be  discharged  from  further  consideration  thereof. 

Sec.  15.  All  amendments  adopted  shall  he  incorporated 
with  the  bill  by  engrossment  under  the  supervision  of  a  com- 
mittee which  shall  report  in  writing  such  engrossment  not 
later  than  the  first  meeting  of  said  Board  held  more  than  three 
days  after  the  order  to  engross. 

Sec.  16.  Every  bill  shall  be  read  on  three  different  days 
in  open  session  before  its  adoption,  and  no  bill  shall  become 
an  ordinance  unless  a  majority  of  all  the  members  vote  in 
favor  of  its  adoption  and  the  presiding  officer  signs  the  same 
in  open  session. 

Sec.  17.  Each  bill  shall  be  presented  to  the  Mayor  im- 
mediately after  its  adoption,  but  shall  not  be  acted  upon  by 
him  (except  it  be  an  emergency  measure)  within  ten  days 
after  its  adoption.  He  shall  within  twenty  days  after  its 
presentation  to  him  return  it  with  his  approval  or  disapproval 
endorsed  thereon  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  or,  if  said  Board 
shall  have  finally  adjourned,  to  the  Register.  Failure  so  to  re- 
turn any  bill  within  said  time  shall  constitute  approval  there- 
of by  the  Mayor.  If  the  Mayor  approves  the  bill,  or  fails  to  re- 
turn it  as  and  when  above  provided,  it  shall  become  an  ordi- 
nance, subject  to  the  Referendum  provisions  of  this  Charter.  If 
he  returns  it  to  the  Register,  with  his  disapproval  endorsed 
thereon,  after  said  Board  shall  have  finally  adjourned,  but 
within  said  twenty  days,  it  shall  not  become  an  ordinance. 
If  he  returns  it  to  said  Board,  with  his  disapproval  endorsed 
thereon,  within  said  twenty  days  and  before  said  Board  shall 
have  finally  adjourned,  said  Board  shall  reconsider  it.  If, 
on  such  reconsideration,  two-thirds  of  all  the  mem])ers  vote 
to  pass  the  bill,  the  presiding  ofiicer  shall  certify  that  fact 
thereon  over  his  signature  and  thereupon  the  bill  shall  be- 
come an  ordinance,  subject  to  the  Referendum  provisions  of 
this  Charter;  otherwise  it  shall  not  become  an  ordinance. 
If  a  bill  contains  several  items  of  appropriation,  the  Mayor 
may  disapprove  one  or  more  items  while  approving  the  others, 
and  the  items  approved  shall  become  an  ordinance  in  like 
manner  as  a  bill  approved,  and  the  items  disapproved  shall 
be  proceeded  with  in  like  manner  as  a  bill  disapproved. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  U 

Sec.  18.  In  all  cases  under  the  two  next  preceding  sec- 
tions the  vote  shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays  and  the 
names  of  the  members  voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall 
be  entered  on  the  Journal. 

Sec.  19.  No  ordinance,  unless  it  be  an  emergency  mea- 
sure, shall  take  effect  until  thirty  days  after  its  approval  by 
the  Mayor,  or  thirty  days  after  adoption  over  his  veto. 

Sec.  20.  An  emergency  measure  is  any  ordinance  neces- 
sary for  the  immediate  preservation  of  the  public  peace, 
health  or  safety  and  declared  to  be  an  emergency  measure; 
any  ordinance  calling  or  providing  for  any  election  or  vote  by 
or  submission  to  the  people;  any  ordinance  making  an  appro- 
priation for  the  payment  of  principal  or  interest  of  the  public 
debt,  or  for  current  expenses  of  the  City  government;  any 
general  appropriation  ordinance ;  or  any  ordinance  fixing  any 
tax  rate ;  but  no  ordinance  granting,  enlarging  or  affecting  any 
franchise  or  amending  or  repealing  any  ordinance  adopted  by 
the  people  under  the  Initiative  shall  be  an  emergency  measure. 

Sec.  21.  Every  ordinance  shall  be  immediately  sent  to 
the  Register,  and  by  him  numbered,  filed  and  preserved  in  his 
office.  Every  ordinance  shall  be  published  within  ten  days 
after  its  approval  by  the  Mayor  or  adoption  over  his  veto  in 
the  paper  or  papers  doing  the  city  publishing. 

Sec.  22.  There  shall  be  a  revision  of  the  general  ordi- 
nances every  five  years. 

Sec.  23.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  have  power  by  or- 
dinance not  inconsistent  with  this  Charter  to  exercise  all 
the  powers  of  the  City,  and  provide  all  means  necessary  or 
proper  therefor;  also  to  do  all  things  needful  within  or  with- 
out the  City  or  State  to  protect  the  rights  of  the  City. 

Sec.  24.  No  fine  shall  exceed  (i\c  hundrctl  dollars.  Any 
one  against  whom  any  fine  shall  have  been  assessed,  failing 
to  pay  the  same  and  costs,  shall  be  committed  to  the  work- 
house or  other  place  provided  therefor,  and  to  such  labor  as 
miay  be  provided  by  ordinance,  until  such  fine  and  costs  shall 
be  fully  paid,  at  the  rate  of  one  day's  imprisonment  for  each 
three   dollars   of  fine ;   provided,   that   no   such   imprisonment 


12 Charter  qi-  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

shall  exceed  one  hundred  days  for  any  one  offense,  and  pro- 
vided further,  that  fines  may  be  paid  in  installments  in  such 
manner  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance,  and  provision  may 
be  made  by  ordinance  for  the  detention,  with  the  view  to 
reform  and  cure,  of  habitual  drunkards  or  other  habitual  de- 
linquents, as  may  be  defined  l>y  ordinance,  for  an  indeter- 
minate sentence  not  exceeding  one  year. 

Sec.  25.  Except  as  otherwise  expressly  provided  in  this 
Charter  no  money  shall  be  expended  except  in  consequence  of 
appropriations  made  by  ordinance,  and  no  improvement  in- 
volving any  expenditure  of  money  shall  be  ordered  except  b}- 
ordinance.  No  ordinance  making-,  changing  or  transferring 
an  appropriation  or  contemplating  or  involving  the  payment 
of  any  money  shall  be  adopted  unless  the  Board  of  Estimate 
and  Apportionment  shall  have  recommended  or  joined  in  recom- 
mending the  same. 

Sec.  26.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  not  have  power  to 
relieve  or  exempt  any  person  from  the  payment  of  any  tax, 
or  from  any  burden  imposed  by  law ;  nor  to  authorize  the 
compromise  of  any  disputed  contractual  dem.and,  or  any  allow- 
ance on  account  thereof  not  provided  for  in  the  contract,  except 
on  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportion- 
ment ;  nor  to  authorize  the  payment  of  any  damages  claimed 
for  alleged  injuries  to  persons  or  property,  except  upon  recom- 
mendation by  the  City  Counselor ;  nor  to  appropriate  any 
money  for  charitable  purposes,  except  such  as  shall  be  subject 
to  the  administration  or  supervision  of  the  City;  nor  to  sell, 
lease  or  otherwise  dispose  of  the  water  works ;  nor  to  sell  anv 
of  the  City's  real  estate  except  by  ordinance  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members;  nor  to  acquire  real 
estate  by  private  purchase  except  by  ordinance  recommended 
bv  the  Board  of  Public  Service. 

ARTICLE  V. 

The  Initiative. 

Section  1.  The  i)cople  shall  have  power,  at  their  option,  to 
propose  ordinances,  including  ordinances  proposing  amendments 
to  this  Charter,  and  to  adopt  the  same  at  the  polls,  with  the  same 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  13 


effect  as  if  adopted  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen  and  approved  by 
the  Mayor,  such  power  being  known  as  the  Initiative.  It  shall 
be  exercised  as  hereinafter  provided,  subject  to  the  provisions  of 
this  Charter. 

Sec.  2.  Such  an  ordinance  shall  be  proposed  by  petition  signed 
by  registered  voters  equal  in  number  to  five  per  cent,  or,  in  case 
the  proposed  ordinance  is  for  the  submission  of  an  amendment 
to  the  Charter,  ten  per  cent,  of  all  the  registered  voters  of  the 
City  at  the  time  of  the  last  preceding  regular  mayoralty  election. 
Each  of  the  papers  comprising  the  petition  shall  contain  the 
proposed  ordinance  in  full  and  designate  by  names  and  addresses 
five  persons  as  the  committee  of  the  petitioners. 

Sec.  3.  Each  such  petition  and  the  papers  comprising  same 
shall  be  governed  by,  and  proceedings  shall  be  had  thereon  in 
accordance  with,  the  provisions  of  Sections  3  and  5  of  Article 
III  concerning  the  Recall,  but  construing  said  sections  with 
reference  to  the  petition  and  the  sufficiency  thereof  required 
by  this  article. 

Sec.  4.    If  the  Board  of  Election  Commissioners  find  that  the 
petition,  with  supplements,  if  any,  is  suflficient,  it  shall  forthwith 
certify  that  fact,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  petition,  omitting 
signatures,  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen.    Unless  the  proposed  ordi- 
nance   is,   without   amendment,   adopted    and    approved    by   the 
Mayor,  or  adopted,  without  amendment,  over  his  veto,  within 
sixty  days  after  the  regular  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen 
next  after  said  certification,  or  unless  four  meml>crs  of  the  com- 
mittee of  the  petitioners  shall,  within   fifteen  days  after  the 
expiration  of  said  sixty  days,  state  in  writing  to  tiie  Clerk  of 
the    Board    of    Aldermen    that    there    is    no    necessity   for 
submitting     the     proposed     ordinance     to     the     voters,     said 
Clerk  shall    forthwith    certify    the   failure   to   adopt  same   to 
the  Board  of  Election   Commissioners.     Said  Board  of  Elec- 
tion  Commissioners   shall   thereupon    provide   for   submitting 
said  proposed  ordinance,  in   its  original  form,  to  the  voters 
at  the  first    election,    at    which    such    submission    may    law- 
fully be  had,  not  less  than  thirty  days  after  such  certification  to 
it  by  said  Clerk,  and  if  there  is  no  such  election  within  ninety 
days  after  such  certification,  and  the  petition  shall  be  signed  by 
registered  voters  equal  in  number  to  seven  per  cent,  or  in  case 


14  Charter  op  the  City  oe  St.  Louis 


the  jjroposed  ordinance  is  for  the  submission  of  an  anienchiient 
to  the  Charter,  fifteen  per  cent,  of  all  the  registered  voters  of 
the  City  at  the  time  of  the  last  preceding  regular  mayoralty 
election,  then  such  submission  shall  be  at  a  special  election  to 
be  held  within  such  ninety  days  if  legally  possible,  otherwise  at 
the  earliest  day  on  which  such  submission  may  be  had  at  either 
a  general  or  special  election. 

Sec.  5.  The  ballots  shall  state  the  nature  of  the  proposed  ordi- 
nance, and  to  the  right  thereof  in  bold  type  the  words  "Yes"  and 
"No",  one  above  the  other.  To  vote  for  such  ordinance  the 
voter  shall  strike  out  the  word  "No"  and  to  vote  against  it,  the 
word  "Yes".  If  a  majority  voting  on  the  proposed  ordinance  vote 
in  favor  thereof,  it  shall  be  an  ordinance  of  the  City,  in  eflfect 
ten  days  thereafter,  and  the  Board  of  Election  Commissioners 
shall  certify  a  copy  thereof  and  the  fact  of  its  adoption  to  the 
Register,  who  shall  number  said  ordinance  and  file  and  preserve 
said  copy  and  certificate  in  his  office.  Such  ordinance  shall  be 
published  and  printed  copies  thereof  made  for  distribution  as 
provided  for  other  ordinances. 

Sec.  6.  No  ordinance  adopted  at  the  polls  under  the  Initiative 
shall  be  amended  or  repealed  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen  except 
by  vole  of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members,  nor  within  one  year 
after  its  adoption. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

The  Referendum. 

Section  1.  The  people  shall  have  power,  at  their  option,  to 
approve  or  reject  at  the  polls  any  ordinance  (except  it  be  an 
emergency  measure  as  defined  in  Section  20  of  Article  IV),  such 
power  being  known  as  the  Referendum  and  to  be  invoked  and 
exercised  as  herein  provided. 

Sec.  2.  If  within  thirty  days  after  the  approval  by  the  Mayor 
of  any  ordinance  (not  an  emergency  measure)  or  its  adoption 
over  his  veto,  there  is  filed  with  the  Board  of  Election  Commis- 
sioners a  petition  purporting  to  be  signed  by  registered  voters 
equal  in  number  to  two  per  cent  of  all  the  registered  voters  of 
the  City  at  the  time  of  the  last  preceding  regular  mayoralty 
election,  requesting  that  said  ordinance  be  reconsidered  and 
rejected  or  referred,  then  said  Board   shall  certify  that  fact  to 


Charter  of  The  City  of  St.  Louis  15 


the  Register  and  said  ordinance  shall  not  take  eflFect  except  as 
hereinafter  provided.  Within  ten  days  after  such  filing  the  said 
Board  shall  find  and  certify  the  number  of  registered  voters  sign- 
ing said  petition  and  what  percentage  said  number  equals  of 
the  entire  number  of  said  registered  voters  at  the  time  of  said 
election.  If  the  percentage  so  found  is  less  than  the  two  per 
cent  aforesaid,  said  Board  shall  certify  that  fact  to  the  Regis- 
ter, the  said  petition  shall  not  be  supplemented,  and  said  ordi- 
nance shall  take  effect.  If  the  percentage  so  found  is  not  less 
than  two  per  cent  but  is  less  than  seven  per  cent  of  all  of  said 
registered  voters  at  the  time  of  said  election,  then  within  thirty 
days  after  the  certification  of  such  finding  there  may  be  filed  with 
said  Board  a  supplemental  petition,  shown,  by  the  affidavits 
appended  thereto,  to  be  signed  by  registered  voters  to  a  number 
which,  with  the  number  of  registered  voters  who  signed  the 
original  petition,  equals  in  number  said  seven  per  cent.  If  such 
supplemental  petition  is  filed,  said  Board  shall  within  ten  days 
thereafter  find  and  certify  the  number  of  registered  voters  sign- 
ing same  and  whether  !-uch  signers,  added  to  registered  voters 
who  signed  the  original  petition,  equal  in  number  said  seven 
per  cent.  If  it  finds  that  the  aggregate  number  of  such  signers 
does  not  equal  said  seven  per  cent,  or  if  the  committee  of  the  peti- 
tioners make  the  statement  in  writing  as  hereinafter  mentioned, 
said  Board  shall  certify  the  fact  to  the  Register,  no  further 
supplementing  shall  be  permitted,  and  said  ordinance  shall  take 
effect.  If  said  Board  finds  the  original  petition,  or  the  original 
and  supplemental  petitions  together,  to  be  signed  by  registered 
voters  equal  in  number  to  said  seven  per  cent,  it  shall,  forthwith 
after  either  such  finding,  certify  that  fact,  together  with  a  copy 
of  the  petition  (omitting  the  signatures),  to  the  Register  and 
to  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  the  latter  Board  shall  reconsider 
said  ordinance.  If  on  such  reconsideration  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men by  a  majority  vote  rejects  said  ordinance,  it  shall  not  take 
effect.  If  the  Board  of  Aldermen  fails  to  finally  and  wholly 
reject  said  ordinance  wJthin  thirty  days  after  such  certification 
to  it,  then,  unless  four  members  of  the  committee  of  the  peti- 
tioners, within  fifteen  days  after  said  thirty  days  expire,  state 
in  writing  to  the  clerk  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  that  there  is 
no  necessity  for  submitting  said  ordinance  to  the  voters,  such 
Clerk  shall  forthwith  certifv  said  failure  to  the  lioard  of  Election 


16 Charter  of  the  City  oe  St.  Louis 

Commissioners,  which  shall  thereupon  make  provision  for  sub- 
mitting such  ordinance,  in  such  form  as  it  then  shall  be,  to  the 
voters;  proi-ided,  that  the  final  percenta^^e  of  signers  required 
to  compel  submission  to  the  voters  of  an  ordinance  amending  or 
repealing  an  ordinance  adopted  at  the  i)olls  under  the  Initiative 
shall  be  three  per  cent  instead  of  seven  per  cent  as  required  in 
case  of  other  ordinances.  Such  submission  shall  l)e  at  the  first 
election,  at  which  it  may  lawfully  be  had,  not  less  than  thirty 
days  after  the  last  mentioned  certification,  and  if  there  is  no 
such  election  within  ninety  days  after  such  certification,  and 
the  original  petition  or  the  original  and  supplemental  peti- 
tions together  shall  be  signed  by  registered  voters  equal  in 
number  to  twelve  per  cent  of  all  the  registered  voters  of  the 
City  at  the  time  of  the  aforesaid  mayoralty  election,  or  if  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  shall  by  resolution  so  request,  such  sub- 
mission shall  be  at  a  special  election  to  be  held  within  such 
ninety  days  if  legally  possible,  otherwise  at  the  earliest  day 
on  which  such  submission  may  be  had  at  either  a  general  or 
special  election.  If  the  majority  of  the  votes  cast  thereon 
at  the  election  shall  be  for  such  ordinance,  it  shall  take  effect 
within  ten  days  after  such  election. 

Sec.  3.  The  provisions  of  Section  5  of  Article  V  concerning 
the  ballots  and  manner  of  voting,  the  duties  of  the  Board  of 
Election  Commissioners  and  the  Register,  and  the  publishing  of 
ordinances  and  printing  of  copies  thereof,  shall  govern  like  mat- 
ters under  this  Article. 

Sec.  4.  The  signatures  need  not  all  be  appended  to  one  paper, 
but  all  papers  comprising  any  original  or  supplemental  petition 
under  this  Article  shall  be  uniform  in  character  and  shall  each 
set  forth  the  ordinance  in  full  and  contain  the  request  men- 
tioned in  Section  2,  and  designate  by  names  and  addresses  five 
persons  as  the  committee  of  the  petitioners,  and  each  such  paper 
shall  be  verified  by  an  affidavit  stating  the  number  of  signatures 
thereto  and  that  each  signature  was  made  in  affiant's  presence, 
by,  as  affiant  verily  believes,  the  person  whose  name  it  pur- 
ports to  be ;  and  all  papers  comprising  an  original  or  supplemen- 
tal petition  shall  be  assembled  by  the  petitioners, and  filed  with  the 
Board  of  Election  Commissioners  as  one  instrument.  Each 
signer  shall  state  opposite  his  signature  his  residence  address. 
Any  person  shall  be  deemed  a  registered  voter  within  the  mean- 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 17 

ing  of  this  Article  whose  name  is  unerased  on  the  registration 
books. 

Sec.  5.  If  the  provisions  of  two  or  more  initiated  or  referre^i 
ordinances  adopted  or  approved  at  the  same  election  conflict, 
the  one  receiving  the  highest  affirmative  vote  shall  prevail  in 
so  far  as  such  provisions  conflict. 

Sec.  6.  Any  person  may  present  to  the  City  Counselor  at  least 
twenty  days  prior  to  any  election  a  written  statement,  not  exceed- 
ing one  thousand  words,  concerning  any  ordinance  or  recall  propo- 
sition to  be  voted  on  at  such  election.  The  City  Counselor  shall 
at  least  ten  days  before  such  election  prepare  and  cause  to  be 
published  in  the  paper  or  papers  doing  the  City  publishing  a 
fair  summary  of  all  such  statements. 

ARTICLE  VIL 

Mayor. 

Section  \.  The  Mayor  shall  be  the  chief  executive  officer  of 
the  City  and,  except  as  by  law  or  in  this  Charter  otherwise  pro- 
vided, have  and  exercise  all  the  executive  power  of  the  City.  He 
shall  exercise  a  general  .supervision  over  all  the  executive  afifairs 
of  the  City  and  see  that  each  officer  and  employe  performs  his 
duty  and  that  all  laws,  ordinances  and  charter  provisions  arc 
enforced  within  the  City.  His  salary  shall  be  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars per  annum.  .Ml  process  against  the  City  shall  be  served  upon 
him.  He  shall  appoint  and  may  remove  all  non-elective  officers 
and  all  employes,  except  as  otherwise  in  this  Charter  provided, 
but  shall  not  remove  any  office,  department  or  division  head 
apixiinted  by  him,  except  for  cause.  He  shall  execute  all  deeds 
and  conditional  bonds  made  in  (he  name  of  the  City  and  see 
that  all  contracts  with  the  City  are  performed  and  that  all  legal 
proceedings  necessary  to  enforce  or  protect  the  rights  or  inter- 
ests of  the  City  are  brought  and  tlili.!.,'ently  prosecuted.  He  shall 
have  a  seat  and  a  voice  and  may  introduce  ordinances,  but  not 
vote,  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  and  shall  make  reconniien<lations 
and  give  information  to  said  Board  as  to  City  affairs.  He  may 
remit,  with  or  without  c<»nilitions,  fines,  costs,  forfeitures  and 
penalties  imposed  for  vinlriti(Mi  of  aiiy  ordinance  or  charter  pro- 
vision, and  shall  annually  make  a  report  thereof  to  the  Board  v\ 


18  Charter  of  the  City  of  St,  Louis 

Aldemicn.  He  may  examine  the  a^fail•^  aiul  conduct  of  any 
department,  board  or  office  and  require  all  officers  to  exhibit 
tlieir  accounts  and  papers  and  make  rci)orls  to  him.  He  shall 
annually  appoint  a  certified  public  accountant  to  thoroughly  audit 
all  books,  accounts  and  records  relating  to  the  fiscal  affairs  of  the 
City  and  to  report  the  result  to  him.  A  copy  of  said  report  shall 
be  filed  with  the  Register. 

Sec.  2.  No  person  shall  become  Mayor  unless  he  be  at  least 
thirtv  rears  of  age,  and  shall  have  been,  next  before  his  election, 
both  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  and  a  resident  of  the  City 
for  five  years  and  an  assessed  taxpayer  of  the  City  for  two  years, 
nor  if  he  shall  have  been  convicted  of  malfeasance  in  office,  bri- 
bery or  other  corrupt  practice  or  crime.  If  the  Mayor  be  so 
convicted  or  become  a  non-resident  of  the  City  he  shall  thereby 
forfeit  his  office. 

Sec.  3.  During  the  Mayor's  temporary  disability  or  absence 
from  the  Citv  his  powers  and  duties  shall  devolve  upon  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  or  if  said  President  be  also 
absent  or  disabled,  upon  the  Vice-President  of  said  Board. 

Sec.  4.  The  Mayor  may  be  removed  from  office  by  the  Board 
of  Aldermen  for  crime  or  misdemeanor  in  office,  for  grave  mis- 
conduct showing  unfitness  for  public  duty,  or  for  permanent  dis- 
ability, three-fourths  of  all  the  members  of  said  Board  voting  for 
such  removal.  The  proceedings  for  such  removal  shall  be  upon 
specific  charges  in  writing,  which,  with  a  notice  stating  the  time 
and  place  of  the  hearing,  shall  be  served  on  the  Mayor  or  pub- 
lished at  least  three  times  in  a  daily  newspaper.  The  hearing 
shall  be  public,  and  the  Mayor  shall  have  the  right  to  appear  and 
defend  in  person  and  by  counsel,  and  have  process  of  the  Board 
to  compel  the  attendance  of  witnesses  in  his  behalf.  Such  vote 
shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays  and  the  names  of  the 
members  voting  for  or  against  such  removal  shall  be  entered  on 
the  Journal. 

Sec.  5,  Whenever  a  vacancy  occurs  in  the  office  of  Mayor, 
the  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  become  INTayor, 
and  shall  hold  such  office  until  a  successor  is  elected  and  quali- 
fies. Such  election,  if  for  an  unexpired  term,  shall  be  at  the  first 
general  City  or  State  election  held  fifty  days  or  more  after  such 
vacancy  occurs.    While  so  holding  the  office  of  Mayor  a  tempo- 


■        Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 19 

rary  vacancy  shall  exist  in  the  office  of  the  President  of  the  Board 
of  Aldermen.  The  Vice-President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  shall 
hold  the  office  of  President  of  said  Board  during  any  vacancy 
therein  with  the  right  of  succession  to  the  office  of  Mayor. 

ARTICLE  VIIL 

« 

Officers. 

Section  1.  The  Mayor  shall  appoint  the  following  officers  at 
his  convenience,  to  hold  for  the  term  for  which  he  was  elected 
and  until  their  successors  qualify:  Assessor,  Collector,  Treas- 
urer, Supply  Commissioner,  Register,  City  Counselor,  City  Mar- 
shal, City  Court  Judges,  Clerk  of  City  Courts,  President  Board 
of  Public  Service,  Director  of  Public  Utilities,  Director  of  Streets 
and  Sewers,  Director  of  Public  Welfare  and  Director  of  Public 
Safety. 

Sec.  2.  In  addition  to  other  qualifications  required  by  this 
Charter,  all  officers  and  employes,  except  day  laborers,  and  ex- 
cept in  such  cases  requiring  exceptional  scientific,  mechanical, 
professional  or  educational  qualifications  as  may  be  determined 
by  the  Efficiency  Board,  must  have  resided  in  the  City  for  at 
least  one  year  and  failing  or  ceasing  so  to  reside,  shall  forfeit 
their  office  or  employment. 

Sec.  3.  Kvery  officer,  and  every  employe  holding  a  position 
upon  an  annual  salary,  shall,  before  entering  upon  his  duties  and 
within  such  time  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance,  take  and  sub- 
scribe, and  file  with  the  Register,  an  oath  or  affirmation  that  he 
has  all  tlie  qualifications  and  is  not  subject  to  any  of  the  dis- 
qualifications named  in  this  Charter  for  the  office  or  employ- 
ment he  is  about  to  assume ;  that  he  will  support  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States  and  of  this  State  and  the  Charter  and 
ordinances  of  the  City;  that  he  will  be  intluenced  only  by  the 
consideration  of  fitne-s  in  the  appointment,  promotion,  demo- 
tion, suspension  or  discharge  of  officers  or  employes;  that  he 
will  not  expend  nor  authorize  the  expenditure  of  money  other- 
wise than  for  adequate  consideration  and  efficient  service  to  the 
City  and  will  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office  or  em- 
ployment. 


20  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 


Sec.  4.  The  Hoard  of  Aldcrnicn  shall  (letcriniiie  hy  ordinance 
whether  and  when  any  officer  or  employe  shall  give  a  bond  and 
the  amount  and  character  thereof,  subject  to  the  provisions  of 
this  Charter.  Premiums  on  all  bonds  of  officers  and  employes 
shall  be  paid  by  the  City,  subject  to  such  regulations  as  may  be 
provided  by  ordinance.  If  any  person  elected  or  appointed  to  an 
office  shall  fail  to  take,  subscribe  and  file  an  oath  or  affirmation 
as  aforesaid,  or  to  give  bond  as  required  by  this  Charter  or  by 
law  or  ordinance,  he  shall  forfeit  his  right  to  the  office  or  em- 
ployment. 

Sec.  5.  Each  head  of  a  department,  office  or  division  shall  be 
responsible  for  the  acts  or  omissions  of  officers  and  employes 
appointed  by  him,  and  may  require  bonds  or  other  securities 
from  them  to  secure  himself. 

Sec.  6.  Any  vacancy  in  any  elective  office,  except  in  the 
Board  of  Aldermen,  shall  be  filled  by  appointment  by  the 
Mayor  until  a  successor  is  elected  and  qualifies.  Such  election, 
if  for  an  unexpired  term,  shall  be  at  the  first  general  City 
or  State  election  held  fifty  days  or  more  after  such  vacancy 
occurs. 

Sec.  7.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  by  ordinance  fix  or  pro- 
vide for  the  fixing  of  salaries  or  compensation  of  officers  and 
employes,  jurors  and  witnesses,  subject  to  the  provisions  of  this 
Charter.  Payment  for  services  of  specialists  or  experts  under 
Article  XIII,  Section  8,  may  be  made  either  with  or  without 
an  ordinance  fixing  the  compensation  for  such  services.  AJl 
salaries  or  compensation  under  the  classified  service  shall  be 
uniform  for  like  service.  No  salary  in  the  unclassified  service 
of  the  City  shall  be  changed  during  the  term  for  wdiich  the 
recipient  was  elected  or  appointed.  No  city  officer  shall  retain 
any  fees  received  by  virtue  of  his  office,  but  all  fees  shall  be- 
long to  the  City  and  be  paid  into  the  City  Treasury  daily, 
unless  some  other  time  is  provided  by  this  Cliarter  or  by  law 
or  ordinance. 

Sec.  8.  All  salaries  shall  be  paid  at  least  monthly.  Salaries 
fixed  in  this  Charter  at  a  certain  sum  shall  be  construed  to  mean 
not  less  than  such  sum,  but  no  salary  under  the  City  shall  ex- 
ceed ten  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  nor  shall  any  officer  or 


' Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 21 

employe  receive  any  addiliuiial  compensation  for  serving  in  any 
other  capacity  under  the  City  while  in  such  office  or  employment ; 
nor  hold  any  office  or  employment  under  the  State  or  United 
States  except  in  the  militia  or  as  notary  public,  nor  have  a 
personal  interest,  (h'rectly  or  indirectly,  in  a  contract  with  the 
City;  and  no  elective  officer  shall  be  a  member  of  the  general 
city  committee  of  any  political  party.  Any  person  guilty  of 
any  wilful  violation  of  this  section  shall  thereby  forfeit  his 
office  or  employment. 

Sec.  9.  Any  elective  officer  (except  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Aldermen),  and  any  officer  appointed  by  the  i\layor  to  fill 
I  any  elective  office,  may  be  suspended  by  the  Mayor  and 
removed  by  the  Board  of  Aldermen  for  cause,  tliree-fourths  of 
all  the  members  of  said  Board  voting  for  such  removal.  Imme- 
diately upon  any  such  suspension  the  Mayor  shall  notify  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  of  same  and  within  ten  days  shall  file  with 
the  Board  charges  in  writing  against  such  suspended  officer, 
which,  with  a  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  the  hearing,  shall 
be  served  on  such  officer  or  published  at  least  three  times  in  a 
daily  newspaper.  The  hearing  shall  he  public,  and  such  officer 
shall  have  the  right  to  appear  and  defend  in  person  and  by 
counsel,  and  have  process  of  the  Board  to  compel  the  attend- 
ance of  witnesses  in  his  behalf.  If  the  Board  be  not  in  session, 
the  Mayor  shall  immediately  call  a  special  session  to  con- 
vene in  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  ten  days  thereafter. 
If,  upon  a  hearing,  such  officer  be  not  removed,  he  shall  be 
immediately  reinstated  in  his  office.  The  vote  on  such  ques- 
tion shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of 
the  members  voting  for  or  against  such  removal  shall  be  enterefl 
on  the  journal.  The  clerk  of  the  Board  shall  forthwith  certify 
the  action  of  the  Board  to  the  Mayor.  The  Mayor  may  appoint 
some  suitable  person  to  lill  temporarily  such  office  during  the 
period  of  any  such  suspension. 

Sec.  10.  Kach  executive  board  and  the  head  of  each  depart- 
ment or  office  (except  those  under  the  Board  of  Public  Service, 
who  shall  report  to  said  Board)  shall  at  least  annually  on  a  day 
or  days  fixed  by  ordinance  make  a  full  rejiort  to  the  Mayor  of 
the  transactions  of  such  Board,  department  or  office  for  the 
year  and  shall  furnish  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen  or  Mayor  at 
any  time  such  information  as  either  may  require. 


22 Charter  of  tije  City  of  St.  Loui s 

vScc.  11.  All  questions  between  officers  as  to  their  relative 
powers  and  duties  shall  he  detcrmincfl  by  the  Mayor  except  as 
in  this  Charter  otherwise  provided. 

Sec.  12.  All  City  officers  and  employes  except  the  Mayor, 
ni.cniliers  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  members  of  the  MiiHanphy 
Board,  I^fficiency  Board,  Complaint  Board,  City  Plan  Com- 
mission, Board  of  Engineers,  Board  of  Examiners  of  Plumb- 
ers, Board  of  Children's  Guardians,  the  Board  in  charge  of 
the  Zoological  Park  and  such  others  as  may  be  excepted  by 
ordinance,  shall  devote  their  entire  time  to  the  duties  of  their 
office. 

ARTICLE  IX. 
Register. 
Section  1.  The  Register  shall  have  custody  of  the  City 
Seal,  original  rolls  of  ordinances,  contracts,  conditional  bonds, 
title  deeds,  certificates  and  papers,  and  all  other  records,  pa- 
pers and  documents  not  required  by  this  Charter  or  by  ordi- 
nance to  be  deposited  elsewhere,  and  register  them  by  num- 
bers, dates  and  contents,  and  keep  such  index  thereof  as  may  by 
ordinance  be  provided.  He  shall  by  his  signature  and  the 
City  Seal  attest  all  instruments  signed  in  the  name  of  the 
City  and  all  official  acts  of  the  Mayor;  provide,  and  when  re- 
quired certify,  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance,  under  his 
hand  and  the  City  Seal,  copies  of  ordinances,  records,  papers 
and  documents  in  his  office;  cause  copies  of  all  ordinances  to 
be  printed  through  the  Supply  Division  and  kept  in  his  of- 
fice for  distribution ;  register  and  preserve  in  his  office  all 
oaths  or  affirmations  by  city  officers  or  employes ;  may  ad- 
minister such  oaths  and  affirmations ;  shall  give  such  bond 
and  appoint  such  deputies  and  employes  as  may  be  provided 
by  ordinance.  He  shall  receive  a  salary  of  four  thousand 
dollars  per  annum. 

Sec.  2.  All  blank  licenses,  tickets,  receipts,  permits,  certifi- 
cates or  other  blank  forms  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance 
shall  be  attested  and  issued  by  the  Register,  and  delivered 
and  charged  to  the  Comptroller,  who  shall  countersign  and 
deliver  them  to  the  proper  officers  and  take  receipts  therefor. 
All  such  blanks  not  used  shall  be  returned  to  the  Comptroller, 
who  shall  cancel  and  return  them  to  the  Register. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  23 


ARTICLE   X. 

Law  Department. 

Section  \.  The  Law  Department  shall  consist  of  a  City 
Counselor,  five  associate  and  two  assistant  Citv  Counselors, 
and  such  other  associates,  assistants  and  employes  as  may 
be  provided  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  2.  The  City  Counselor  shall  be  the  head  of  the  T<aw 
Department;  appoint  all  associates,  assistants  and  employes 
in  his  department ;  shall,  through  said  department,  direct  the 
management  of  all  the  litigation  in  which  the  City  is  a  party, 
including  service  in  the  City  Courts;  represent  the  Citv  in 
all  legal  matters  and  proceedings  in  which  the  City  is  a  party 
or  interested,  or  in  which  any  of  its  officers  are  officially  inter- 
ested ;  advise  the  Board  of  Aldermen  or  any  committee  or 
member  thereof  and  the  IVTayor  and  the  heads  of  all  depart- 
ments, and  through  the  Mayor  and  heads  of  departments  all 
other  officers  of  the  City,  as  to  all  legal  questions  aflPecting 
the  City's  interest ;  and  approve  as  to  form  all  contracts,  deeds, 
bonds  and  other  documents  to  be  signed  in  the  name  of.  or 
made  to  or  with  the  City.  ITc  shall  render  the  Police  Depart- 
ment all  legal  advice  and  services  required  bv  it.  Tic  sliall 
receive  a  salary  of  eight  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

Sec.  3.  The  City  Counselor  and  associate  and  assistant  City 
Counselors  shall  be  attorncys-at-law  entitled  to  practice  in  all 
the  courts  in  the  State  for  at  least  three  years  previous  to 
their  appointment. 

ARTICLE  XL 

City  Marshal. 

Section  L  The  City  Marshal  shall  receive  a  salary  of  three 
thousand  dollars  per  annum ;  execute  and  return  all  proces.s, 
notices  and  orders  of  the  Mayor,  I^w  Department.  Health 
Commissioner  and  City  Court  Judges,  and  all  other  process, 
notices  and  orders  as  in  this  Charter  or  by  ordinance  may 
be  provided.  Tie  shall  appoint  such  deputies  and  employes  as 
may  be  provided  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  2.  In  case  the  Police  Department  shall  become  a 
department  of  the  City,  the  Marshal's  functions  shall  devolve 


24  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

upon  it  and  be  exercised  in  such  manner  as  may  be  provided 
by  ordinance,  in  which  event  the  office  of  Marshal  shall  be 
abolished. 

ARTICLE  XIL 
'  City  Courts. 

Section  L  There  shall  be  two  City  Court  Judges,  who  shall 
have  been  for  at  least  five  years  licensed  attorneys,  one  to  be 
known  as  Judge  of  City  Court  One,  and  the  other  as  Judge 
of  City  Court  Two,  each  of  whom  shall  receive  a  salary  of 
three  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  may  by  ordinance  adopted 
by  the  vote  of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members,  increase  the 
number  of  City  Courts  and  Judges.  It  may,  by  ordinance, 
divide  the  City  into  judicial  districts  and  regulate  the  juris- 
diction thereof,  and  may  from  time  to  time  alter  same.  When- 
ever any  such  Judge  is  absent  or  unable  to  hold  court,  the 
Mayor  shall  appoint  an  eligible  person  to  act  during  such 
absence  or  inability,  who  shall  receive  such  compensation  as 
may  be  provided  by  ordinance.  Such  courts  shall  be  held 
in  places  provided  for  by  ordinance,  and,  in  the  absence  of 
such  ordinance  provision,  in  such  places  as  the  Mayor  mav 
direct. 

Sec.  3.  The  City  Courts  shall  have  jurisdiction  of  all 
cases  arising  under  this  Charter  or  any  ordinance,  subject  to 
appeal  by  the  City  or  the  defendant  to  the  St.  Louis  Court 
of  Criminal  Correction  in  like  manner  as  provided  by  law  for 
appeals  from  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  criminal  cases  to  their 
appellate  courts;  may  punish  contempts  of  court  by  fine  not 
exceeding  fifty  dollars  or  by  imprisonment  not  exceeding  ten 
days,  or  both;  enforce  its  orders  and  judgments  as  a  court 
of  record  may,  and  render  final  judgment  on  any  forfeited 
bond  or  recognizance  returnable  to  such  court,  subject  to 
an  appeal,  as  in  other  cases. 

Sec.  4.  There  shall  be  one  Clerk  for  all  the  City  Courts, 
who  shall  receive  a  salary  of  twenty-four  hundred  dollars  per 
annum,  and  appoint  such  deputies  and  employes  as  may  be  pro- 
vided by  ordinance. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 25 

ARTICLE  XIIL 

Board  of  Public  Service. 

.  Section  \.  There  shall  be  a  Board  of  Public  Service,  con- 
sisting of  the  President  of  said  Board,  and  four  Directors, 
who  shall  be  known  as  Director  of  Public  Utilities,  Director 
of  Streets  and  Sewers,  Director  of  Public  Welfare  and  Di- 
rector of  Public  Safety.  They  shall  be  the  heads  of  and 
exercise  super\ision  over  their  respective  departments  hereby 
created,  as  follows:  Department  of  the  President,  Dei)art- 
ment  of  Public  Utilities,  Department  of  Streets  and  Sewers, 
Department  of  Public  Welfare  and  Department  of  Public 
Safety.  They  shall  each  receive  a  salary  of  eight  thousand  dol- 
lars per  annum. 

Sec.  2.  The  President  of  the  Board  and  the  Directors  of 
Public  Utilities  and  of  Streets  and  Sewers  shall  be  engineers 
of  technical  training,  of  at  least  ten  years'  e.xperience,  and 
qualified  to  design  as  well  as  to  direct  engineering  work. 

Sec.  3.  .^ny  member  of  the  Board  of  Public  Service  may 
designate  any  officer  in  any  department  under  said  Board  to 
act  as  his  deputy,  but  such  deputy  shall  have  no  vote  on  the 
Board. 

Sec.  4.  The  Board  of  Public  Service  shall  meet  at  least 
once  each  week  at  its  office.  The  President  of  the  Board 
shall  preside  at  its  meetings.  .A.  majority  of  said  Board  shall 
constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business,  but  no 
final  action  shall  be  taken  in  any  matter  concerning  the  de- 
partment of  any  absent  member  unless  such  matter  has  been 
made  the  special  order  of  the  day.  Said  Board  shall  fur- 
nish through  its  President  to  the  Mayor  and  the  Board  of 
Aldermen  such  data  and  information  as  may  be  required,  or 
which  it  may  from  time  to  time  deem  necessary;  prescribe 
rules  and  regulations  necessary  and  proper  to  carry  out  its 
functions ;  appoint  a  secretary  and  such  other  employes  as 
may  be  provided  by  ordinance;  and  keep  a  record  of  its  pro- 
ceedings which  shall  be  open  to  the  public.  Final  action 
on  any  matter  shall  be  taken  by  yeas  and  nays  and  entered 
on  its  record.  An  abstract  of  its  proceeding.s  shall  be  pub- 
lished in  the  paper  or  papers  doing  the  City  publishing. 


26  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

Sec.  5.     The  J'oard  of  IHiblic  vScrvice  shall  have  jxjvver: 

(a)  To  exercise  supervision  and  control  over  the  aforesaid 
departments  and  the  heads  thereof. 

(b)  To  grant  permits  to  occupy  or  use  portions  of  any  pub- 
lic ground,  highways,  streets,  alleys,  or  other  public  places, 
consistent  with  the  public  use  thereof  and  not  inconsistent 
with  anv  law  or  general  ordinance,  including  permits  for 
switch  connections,  and  any  such  permit  may  be  revoked  by 
said  Board  at  will ;  but  this  power  shall  never  be  deemed  to 
vest  in  said  Board  the  right  to  grant  franchises. 

(c)  To  grant  permits,  according  to  such  general  rules  and 
regulations  as  may  be  provided  by  general  ordinance,  in  rela- 
tion to  any  private  business  required  by  ordinance  to  have 
a  permit  as  a  condition  of  or  in  connection  with  its  conduct 
or  operation. 

(d)  To  accept  or  reject  grants  or  dedications,  absolute  or 
conditional,  of  highways,  streets,  boulevards,  parkways,  alleys 
or  other  property  for  any  public  use.  No  plat  of  any  addi- 
tion or  subdi\-ision,  or  any  plat  or  map  attached  to  any  deed, 
shall  be  filed  or  recorded  in  the  Recorder's  office  unless  the 
same  shall  first  be  approved  by  the  Board  as  to  public  high- 
ways, streets,  boulevards,  parkways,  alleys  or  other  public 
places  represented  thereon,  and  the  grades  thereof,  except 
plats  accompanying  judgments  or  orders  of  court  in  partition 
and  other  suits  where  such  plats  form  a  part  of  such  proceed- 
ings. 

(e)  To  establish  the  grades  of  the  center  line  of  all  public 
highways,  streets,  boulevards,  parkways  and  alleys.  Upon 
demand  of  the  owner  of  the  property  abutting  on  any  public 
highway,  street,  boulevard,  parkway  or  alley,  the  Board  shall 
determine  the  grade  of  the  line  of  said  public  highway,  street, 
boulevard,  parkway  or  alley  forming  the  boundary  line  of 
such  property. 

(f)  To  control  and  conduct  any  and  all  engineering,  con- 
struction and  reconstruction  work  undertaken  by  the  City, 
and  to  supervise  all  such  work  in  which  the  City  is  interested. 
All  plans  and  specifications  for  such  work  shall  be  prepared 
under  the  direction  of  the  Board  and  be  subject  to  its  ap- 
proval. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  27 

(g)  To  make  such  recommendations,  exercise  such  powers 
and  perform  such  duties  as  may  be  required  of  it  l)y  this 
Charter  or  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  6.  Said  Departments  shall  have  divisions  as  herein 
established.  The  head  of  each  department  shall  appoint  all 
heads  of  divisions  in  his  department  and  all  officers  and  em- 
ployes in  his  department  not  assigned  to  a  division.  The 
head  of  each  division  shall  manage  his  division  and  appoint 
all  officers  and  employes  therein. 

Sec.  7.  All  departments  under  the  Board  of  Public  Serv- 
ice shall  co-operate,  and  the  employes  or  assistants  in  any 
one  department  or  division  may,  under  the  order  of  the  Board, 
be  temporarily  utilized  by  any  other  department  or  division. 
All  questions  as  to  the  distribution  of  powers  or  duties  be- 
tween such  departments  shall  be  determined  by  the  Board. 

Sec.  8.  The  Board  may  at  any  time,  with  the  approval  of 
the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment,  appoint  specialists 
or  experts  in  connection  with  any  public  work  or  improve- 
ment for  which  an  appropriation  has  been  made  and  pay  for 
their  services  out  of  such  appropriation. 

Sec.  9.  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  PRESIDENT.  The 
Department  of  the  President  shall  have  charge  and  supervi- 
sion of  all  public  work  and  improvements  undertaken  by  the 
City  or  in  which  the  City  is  interested  and  prepare  all  plans 
and  specifications  therefor,  except  where  such  supervision, 
work  or  preparation  is  herein  or  by  the  Board  of  Public 
Service  otherwise  assigned  or  provided. 

Sec.  10.  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  UTILITII-S.  The 
Department  of  Public  L^tilities  shall  have  general  supervision 
over  the  maintenance,  equipment,  operation  and  service,  and 
the  assessment  of  rates  and  charges,  of  all  public  utilities  owned 
or  operated  by  the  City.  It  shall  execute  or  cause  to  be  exe- 
cuted all  ordinances  regulating  the  construction,  reconstruc- 
tion, extension,  maintenance,  equipment,  operation,  service  or 
rates  of  public  utilities  operating  under  franchises,  licenses 
or  permits,  or  compelling  extensions  of  facilities  for  such  serv- 
ice. The  Director  of  said  department  shall  make  investigations 


28  CilARTER  OF  THE  CiTY  OF  ST.   LoUIS 

and  reports  in  rrlati'Mi  lo  any  f)f  the  foregoing:  matters  as 
may  be  provided  by  ordinance  or  required  liy  the  Board  of 
Public  Service,  and  in  connection  therewith  shall  have  power 
to  subpoena  witnesses  and  order  the  production  of  books 
and  papers  relating  thereto.  He  shall  have  charge  of  the  su- 
pervision of  City  lighting",  and  of  the  municipal  electric  light- 
ing plants  and  electrical  equipment  in  City  buildings. 

Sec.  11.  There  sliall  be  a  Water  Division  in  this  depart- 
ment and  the  head  thereof  shall  be  known  as  the  Water  Com- 
missioner. It  shall  have  under  its  special  charge  the  opera- 
tion and  maintenance  of  the  water  works  and  of  all  facilities 
for  the  acquisition  and  distribution  of  water.  It  shall  assess 
water  rates  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance  and  make  out 
the  bills  therefor  and  deliver  same  to  the  Comptroller  who 
shall  deliver  them  to  the  Collector,  take  his  receipt  therefor 
and  charge  him  therewith  on  the  Comptroller's  books. 

As  long  as  any  of  the  "vSt.  Louis  Water  Bonds"  or  renewals 
thereof  or  bonds  issued  on  the  special  credit  of  the  water  works 
or  facilities  remain  unpaid  the  water  rates  shall  be  fixed  at 
prices  that  will  produce  revenue  sufficient  at  least  to  pay  the 
running  expenses  of  the  water  division  and  the  interest  on  all 
such  bonds  and  renewals. 

Sec.  12.  The  accounts  of  all  public  utilities  owned  and  op- 
erated by  the  City  and  dependent  for  their  revenues  upon  the 
sale  of  their  products  or  services  shall  be  kept  separate  and 
distinct  from  all  other  accounts  of  the  City,  and  shall  con- 
tain proportionate  charges  for  all  services  performed  for  such 
utilities  by  other  departments,  as  well  as  proportionate  credits 
for  all  services  rendered. 

Sec.  13.  DEPARTMENT  OF  STREETS  AND  SEWERS. 
The  Department  of  Streets  and  Sew'ers  shall  include  street 
and  sewer  divisions. 

(a)  The  Street  Division  shall  ha\'c  charge  of  the  repairing, 
cleaning  and  maintenance  of  all  public  highways,  streets, 
boulevards,  alleys,  bridges,  wdiarves  and  levees ;  the  sr)rinkling 
of  streets  and  the  collection  and  disposal  of  garbage,  ashes 
and  refuse,  and  except  as  otherwise  provided  by  law  or  ordi- 
nance shall  have  charge  of  the   enforcement  and   execution 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  29 


of  all  ordinances  relating  to  any  of  the  matters  referred  to  in 
this  section  or  to  the  harbor. 

(b)  The  Sewer  Division  shall  have  cliartje  of  the  repairing, 
cleaning  and  maintenance  of  all  sewers  and  drains  and  the 
disposal  of  sewage. 

Sec.  14.  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  WELFARE.  The 
Department  of  Public  Welfare  shall  include  divisions  of 
health,  of  hospitals,  of  parks  and  recreation,  and  of  correc- 
tion. 

(a)  The  head  of  the  division  of  health  shall  be  known 
as  the  Health  Commissioner.  Said  division  shall  have  general 
supervision  over  the  public  health  and  shall  see  that  the 
laws  and  ordinances  in  relation  thereto  are  observed  and  en- 
forced, and  for  that  purpose  the  Health  Commissioner  is 
authorized  and  empowered,  with  the  apjiroval  of  the  Director 
of  Public  Welfare,  to  make  such  rules  and  regulations,  not 
inconsistent  with  this  Charter  or  any  law  or  ordinance,  as 
will  tend  to  preserve  or  promote  the  health  of  the  City;  to 
enter  into,  or  to  authorize  and  require  any  employe  or  police 
oflficer  to  enter  into,  and  examine  any  building,  lot  or  place 
within  the  City,  and  to  ascertain  the  condition  thereof  so 
far  as  the  public  health  may  be  affected  by  it ;  and  to  declare 
and  abate  nuisances  as  herein  or  by  law  or  ordinance  provided. 
Where,  in  the  judgment  of  said  Commissioner,  the  existence 
of  a  nuisance  is  plain  and  its  continuance  a  danger  to  public 
health,  he  may  declare  such  nuisance  and  danger,  and  enter 
such  declaration  in  the  records  of  his  office.  He  shall  then 
immediately  abate  such  nuisance  without  notice,  in  all  cllu-r 
cases  before  abating  a  nuisance  on  ])rivate  pro])crty  he  shall 
give  a  hearing,  after  notice  thereof  given  either  personally  to 
the  owner  or  his  agent  or  by  posting  on  or  near  the  premi.ses. 
whereupon  he  may  declare  the  nuisance  and  order  its  abate- 
ment. In  case  such  nuisance  is  not  abated  as  ordered,  he 
shall  abate  the  same.  In  case  of  abatement  of  nuisance  on 
private  property,  the  cost  thereof  may  be  assessed  and  col- 
lected as  a  special  tax  and  be  a  lien  on  such  property  as  may  Ix? 
provided  by  ordinance.  .Any  person  causing  or  maintainmg 
any  nuisance  shall  lie  lial)lc  to  the  City  in  a  civil  action  for 
the   expense    incurred    in    abating    such    nui>-ance.      I'ailnrc    to 


30  Charter  ok  the  City  oi-"  St.  Louis 

abate  a  nuisance  after  an  order  so  to  do  as  aforesaid  shall 
constitute  a  misdemeanor,  punishalile  as  may  be  provided 
by  ordinance. 

Whenever  any  malignant  infectious  or  contagious  disease 
is  prevalent  in  the  City,  or  will  probably  become  so,  the  Mayor 
may  ])roclaim  such  fact  to  the  inhabitants,  and  thereupon  any- 
thing in  this  Charter  or  any  ordinance  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding, the  Health  Commissioner,  with  the  approval  of 
the  Director  of  Public  Welfare  and  the  Mayor,  shall  have 
power,  until  the  Mayor  shall  proclaim  that  the  occasion  there- 
for is  past,  to  take  such  steps,  use  such  measures  and  incur 
such  expense  as  may  in  the  opinion  of  the  Commissioner  be 
necessary  to  avoid,  suppress  or  mitigate  such  disease. 

Said  Commissioner  shall  keep  a  record  of  his  acts  and  orders 
and  shall  file  in  his  office  all  petitions,  documents  and  papers 
belonging  thereto.  Copies  of  such  records,  petitions,  docu- 
ments and  papers  when  certified  by  him  or  as  may  be  pro- 
vided by  ordinance  shall  be  prima  facia  evidence  in  any  court 
of  the  facts  therein  contained. 

All  police  officers  shall  observe  the  sanitary  conditions  in 
their  districts  and,  through  the  Chief  of  Police,  shall  report 
to  the  Health  Commissioner  promptly,  any  disease  or  nuisance 
in  the  City. 

The  health  division  shall  have  charge  of  the  registration  of 
all  births  and  deaths  within  the  City.  It  shall  have  charge  of  the 
markets,  the  quarantine  and  the  morgue,  and  the  Health  Com- 
missioner, with  the  approval  of  the  Director  of  Public  Welfare, 
shall  make  all  necessary  rules  for  the  government  thereof. 

(b)  There  shall  be  a  Division  of  Hospitals  which  shall  in- 
clude, and  have  under  its  special  charge  and  supervision  the 
operation  and  maintenance  of  all  the  hospitals,  infirmaries, 
medical  laboratories,  dispensaries  and  other  charitable  insti- 
tutions of  the  city.  The  head  of  said  division  shall  be  known 
as  the  Hospital  Commissioner. 

(c)  There  shall  be  a  Division  of  Parks  and  Recreation, 
which,  except  as  may  be  otherwise  herein  or  by  law  pro- 
vided, shall  have  supervision  and  control  of  all  public  parks 
and  places  and  of  all  facilities  provided  by  the  City  for  recre- 
ation, amusement  or  instruction,  and  execute  all  ordinances 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  31 

of  the  City  relating  to  the  management  or  use  thereof.  It 
shall  also  exercise  such  supervision  and  control  as  may  be 
provided  by  ordinance  over  public  recreative  functions,  amuse- 
ments and  entertainments  not  conducted  by  the  City.  The 
head  of  said  division  shall  be  known  as  the  Commissioner  of 
Parks  and  Recreation.  He  shall  appoint  and  contrtjl  the 
City  Forester. 

(d)  There  shall  be  a  Division  of  Correction,  which  shall  in- 
clude and  have  under  its  special  charge  and  supervision  the 
operation  and  maintenance  of  all  detentixe,  penal  and  correc- 
tive institutions  of  the  City.  The  head  of  said  division  shall 
be  known  as  the  Commissioner  of  Correction. 

(e)  The  Board  of  Aldermen  mav  by  ordinance  inchule  in 
the  Department  of  Public  Welfare  and  make  provision :  for 
research  and  publicity  concerning  the  causes  of  poverty,  de- 
linquency, crime  and  disease,  or  concerning  other  problems  re- 
lating to  the  public  health,  morals  and  welfare,  and  to  promote  the 
education  of  the  City  with  regard  tliereto;  for  free  legal  aid  ;  for  a 
municipal  lodging  house ;  for  a  City  free  employment  bureau  ; 
and  provide  for  such  of^cer  or  oflficers  in  charge  thereof  as 
may  be  necessary. 

Sec.  15.  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLIC  SAFETY.  The 
Department  of  Public  Safety  shall  include  the  following  divi- 
sions : 

(a)  When  the  City  is  permitted  l)y  law  to  establish  and 
maintain  a  police  department,  such  department  shall  be  a 
division  hereunder.  The  head  of  said  division  shall  be  known 
as  Police  Commissioner.  He  may  be  removed,  with  or  with- 
out cause,  by  the  Director  of  Public  Safety  or  by  the  Governor 
of  the  State. 

(b)  When  the  City  is  permitted  by  law  to  establish  and 
maintain  an  excise  department,  such  department  shall  be  a 
division  hereunder.  The  head  of  said  division  shall  be  known 
as  Excise  C(Mnmissioner.  He  may  be  removed,  with  or  with- 
out cause,  by  the  Director  of  Pul)lic  Safety  or  by  the  Cov- 
ernor  of  the  State. 

(c)  There  shall  be  a  division  of  Fire  and  Fire  Prcventioii 
which  shall  manage,  control  and  cotiduct  the  fire  department, 
and   take  all  proper  steps  for  fire  preventioii  or  suppression. 


32 Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

1'lie  head  of  said  division  shall  he  known  as  Chief  of  the 
l-'ire  Department.  In  case  of  emergency,  with  the  approval 
of  the  Director  of  Puhlic  Safety,  he  may  purchase  or  hire 
whatever  may  he  required  for  the  emergency,  with  or  with- 
out authority  or  appropriation  by  ordinance  therefor.  He  or 
any  assistant  in  charge  at  any  fire  shall  have  the  same  police 
powers  at  such  fire  as  the  Chief  of  Police,  under  such  regula- 
tions as  may  be  prescribed  by  ordinance.  He  may  appoint  a 
Fire  Marshal,  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  subject  to  the  Chief  of 
the  Fire  Department,  to  investigate  the  cause,  origin  and  cir- 
cumstances of  fires  and  the  loss  occasioned  thereby  and  assist 
in  the  prevention  of  arson.  The  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department 
shall  have  charge  of  the  fire  and  police  telegraph  and  telephone 
systems. 

(d)  There  shall  be  a  division  of  Weights  and  Measures 
which  shall  execute  all  ordinances  regulating  or  relating  to 
weights  and  measures  or  the  inspection  thereof.  The  head  of  said 
division  shall  be  known  as  the  Commissioner  of  Weights  and 
Measures. 

(e)  There  shall  be  a  division  of  Building  and  Inspection.  It 
shall  superintend  all  buildings  belonging  to  or  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  City  and  have  charge  of  the  condemnation  of  un- 
safe buildings  and  the  prevention  of  the  use  of  buildings  while 
imsafe,  the  granting  of  building  permits,  the  inspection  of  all 
buildings  in  course  of  construction,  the  enforcement  of  all 
building  ordinances;  the  supervision  of  all  plumbing;  the 
abatement  of  the  smoke  nuisance;  and  the  inspection  of  all 
boilers,  elevators  and  mechanical  plants.  The  head  of  said 
division  shall  be  known  as  the  Building  Commissioner. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 
Public  Welfare  Boards. 

Section  1.  The  Mullanphy  Fund  shall  be  administered  by 
a  Board  of  three  members  to  be  appointed  by  the  Mayor  for 
terms  of  one,  two  and  three  years,  respectively.  Each  year 
thereafter  the  Mayor  shall  appoint  one  member  for  a  term 
of  three  years.  Members  shall  hold  of^ce  until  their  succes- 
sors qualify.  The  Board  may  appoint  such  employes  as  may 
be  provided  by  ordinance. 


Ciiartp:r  (if  tup:  City  of  St.  Lotns  33 

Sec.  2.  There  is  herel)y  established  a  Complaint  Board  to 
consist  of  three  members  to  serve  without  compensation. 
Said  members  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Mayor  for  terms  of 
one,  two  and  three  years,  respectively.  Each  year  thereafter 
the  Mayor  shall  appoint  one  member  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  Members  shall  hold  office  until  their  successors  quali- 
fy. Said  Board  shall  employ  a  secretary,  and  may  appoint 
such  other  employes  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance.  It 
shall  receive  complaints  against  any  department,  board,  divi- 
sion, officer  or  employe  of  the  City,  or  against  any  public  util- 
ity corporation,  and  examine  the  same.  It  shall  recommend 
to  the  proper  City  or  State  authorities  any  action  deemed  ad- 
visable. 

Sec.  3.  Provision  may  be  made  in  accordance  with  law  or 
ordinance  for:  (a)  a  Board  of  Parole  and  Probation;  (b)  a 
Board  of  Children's  Guardians;  (c)  a  City  Art  Museum,  and 
(d)   a  Zoological  Park. 

ARTICLE   XV. 

Department  of  Finance. 

Section  1.  The  Depa/tnient  of  Finance  shall  include  the  office 
of  the  Comptroller  and  the  Assessment,  Collection,  Treasury 
and  Supply  Divisions. 

Sec.  2.  THECOMPI'ROLLER.  The  Comptroller  shall  have 
the  qualifications  and  forfeit  his  office  for  the  causes  provided 
with  regard  to  the  Mayor;  receive  a  salary  of  eight  thousand 
dollars  per  annum  ;  give  bond  to  the  City  for  not  less  than  three 
hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  appoint  one  deputy  comptroller 
and  such  other  deputies  and  employes  as  may  be  provided  by 
ordinance.  The  Comptroller  shall  be  the  head  of  the  Department 
of  Finance  and  exercise  a  general  supervision  over  its  divisions, 
over  all  the  fiscal  affairs  of  the  City  and  over  all  its  property, 
assets  and  claims  and  the  disposition  thereof.  He  shall  preserve 
the  credit  of  the  City,  and  for  that  purpose,  or  in  case  of  any 
extraordinary  emergency  of  any  kind,  he  may,  with  the  approval 
of  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment,  and  with  or  with- 
out any  ordinance  or  other  autliority  dt  approjiriation  therefor, 
draw  warrants  on  the  treasurer  or  effect  temi)orary  loans  to  pay 


34  CiiAKJiCR  OF  THE  City  or  St.  Louis 

debts  and  judgments  and  other  liabilities  of  the  City,  or  to  meet 
any  such  emergency,  charging  such  warrants  to  any  excess  bal- 
ances in  appropriations  made  by  the  general  annual  appropriation 
bill  and  specifically  reporting  his  action  to  the  Board  of  Aldermen 
at  its  first  meeting  thereafter.  He  shall  have  a  seat  and  a  voice 
but  no  vote  in  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  He  shall  be  the  general 
accountant  and  auditor  of  the  City  and  the  records  in  his  office 
shall  show  the  financial  operations  and  condition,  property,  assets, 
claims  and  liabilities  of  the  City,  all  expenditures  authorized  and 
all  contracts  in  which  the  City  is  interested.  He  shall  require 
proper  fiscal  accounts,  records,  settlements  and  reports  to  be  kept, 
made  and  rendered  to  him  by  the  several  departments  and  offices 
of  the  City,  including  the  license  collector's  office  so  far  as 
consistent  with  law,  and  shall  control  and  continually  audit  the 
same,  and  prescribe  forms,  rules  and  regulations  therefor  and 
require  their  observance.  He  shall  regulate  the  making  of  all 
requisitions  for  supplies.  '  Except  as  by  this  Charter  or  by  law 
or  ordinance  otherwise  provided  he  shall  prescribe  and  regulate 
the  manner  of  paying  creditors,  officers  and  employes  of  the  City. 
He  shall  audit  all  pay-rolls,  accounts  and  claims  against  the  City, 
and  certify  thereon  the  balance  as  stated  by  him  and  draw  his 
warrant  on  the  Treasurer  therefor,  but  no  pay-roll,  account  or 
claim,  or  any  part  thereof,  except  for  the  preservation  of  the 
credit  of  the  City,  or  in  case  of  extraordinary  emergency  as 
hereinbefore  provided,  shall  be  audited  against  the  City  unless 
certified  by  the  officer  having  knowledge  of  the  facts,  and  author- 
ized by  law  or  ordinance,  and  the  amount  required  for  payment 
of  the  same  appropriated  for  that  purpose  by  ordinance  and 
in  the  Treasury.  He  shall  see  that  no  contract  liability  is 
incurred  except  for  the  preservation  of  the  City's  credit,  or  in  case 
of  emergency,  as  hereinbefore  provided,  without  previous  author- 
ity of  law  or  ordinance.  He  shall,  at  least  monthly,  adjust  the  set- 
tlements of  all  officers  engaged  in  the  collection  of  the  revenue. 
Tie  may  temporarily  transfer  employes  from  one  division  of  the 
department  of  finance  to  any  other  division  thereof.  He  shall 
have  power  to  administer  oaths-  He  shall  receive  and  preserve 
in  his  office  all  books,  vouchers  and  papers  relating  to  the  fiscal 
affairs  of  the  City.  He  may  destroy  any  documents,  books, 
vouchers,  papers  or  cancelled  blank  forms  pertaining  to  any 
department,  board  or  office  if  he,  the  City  Counselor  and  the  head 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 35 

of  such  department,  board  or  office  certify  tliat  they  are  useless 
and  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  so  directs.  He  shall 
keep  a  register  of  all  delinquent  and  special  tax  bills  or  other 
claims  of  the  City  in  the  nature  of  liens  on  property  and  shall 
release  any  such  bill  or  claim  thereon  on  proof  of  pavnient 
thereof. 

Sec.  3.  Any  officer  or  employe  in  the  Comptroller's  office  mav 
be  designated  by  him  to  draw  warrants  upon  the  Treasurer  vvitii 
the  same  effect  as  if  signed  by  the  Comptroller,  such  designation 
to  be  in  writing,  in  duplicate,  filed  with  the  Mayor  and  in  the 
treasury  division ;  provided,  that  the  Mayor  may  make  such  desig- 
nation if  the  Comptroller  be  absent  or  disabled  and  there  be  no 
one  in  his  office  designated  to  act.  Any  such  designation  may 
be  revoked  by  the  Comptroller  while  acting  as  such  by  filing  the 
revocation  in  duplicate  with  the  Mayor  and  in  the  Treasury 
Division. 

Sec.  4.  ASSESSMENT  DIVISION.  The  Assessment  Divi- 
sion shall  consist  of  the  Assessor  and  such  deputy  assessors  and 
employes  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  5.  The  Assessor  shall  have  the  qualifications  provided  with 
regard  to  the  Mayor;  receive  a  salary  of  five  thousand  dollar^ 
per  annum,  and  before  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  take 
an  oath  similar  to  that  required  by  law  of  county  assessors.  Ik- 
shall  be  the  head  of  the  Assessment  Division ;  appoint  the  deputy 
assessors  and  employes  in  his  division ;  preserve  all  maps,  plats, 
books  and  papers  belonging  to  said  division ;  cause  all  plats  to  be 
prepared,  altered  and  corrected  as  required  by  law ;  receive  lists, 
statements  or  returns  of  property;  and  furnish  blanks  and  infor- 
mation to  those  desiring  to  appeal  to  the  Board  of  Equalization. 

Sec.  6.  Each  deputy  assessor  shall  take  the  same  oath  as  the 
Assessor  and  have  the  same  powers,  subject  to  his  control,  and 
shall  have  been  a  resident  of  the  City  for  five  years  next  be- 
fore appointment. 

Sec.  7.  The  Assessor  and  his  deputies  before  entering  upon 
their  duties  shall  give  bond  to  the  State ;  the  Assessor  for  twenty 
thousand  dollars  and  the  deputies  each  for  five  thousand  dol- 
lars, or  such  other  sums  as  may  be  fixed  by  ordinance.  Each 
bond  shall  be  executed  in  duplicate  and  one  forwarded  to  the 
State  Auditor,  the  other  deposited  with  the  Comptroller. 


36 Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

Sec.  8.  The  Assessor,  or  his  deputies  under  his  direction,  shall 
severally  assess  all  the  taxable  property,  real  or  personal,  within 
the  City  in  the  manner  provided  by  law,  and  for  that  purpose  the 
Assessor  may  divide  and  assign  the  work  or  any  of  it  among  them. 
They  shall  commence  their  assessment  on  the  first  day  of  June  in 
each  year,  and  complete  the  same,  and  the  deputies  make  their 
final  reports  thereof  to  the  Assessor,  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
January  next  following.  The  Assessor  shall  see  that  the  assess- 
ment is  made  uniform  and  equal  throughout  the  City. 

Sec.  9.  The  Assessor  shall  make  up  the  assessment  books  in 
proper  alphabetical  order  from  the  reports  made  by  the  deputy 
assessors,  the  lists  or  statements  made  of  property,  his  own  view, 
or  the  best  information  he  can  otherwise  obtain,  and  complete 
said  books  on  or  before  the  third  Monday  in  March  of  each  year. 

Sec.  10.  There  shall  be  a  Board  of  Equalization  consisting  of 
the  Assessor,  who  shall  be  its  president,  and  four  taxpaying,  prop- 
erty-owning citizens  resident  in  the  City  for  ten  years  next  before 
their  appointment,  who  shall  be  appointed  annually  by  the  Mayor 
on  or  before  the  second  Monday  in  March.  Each  member  shall 
take  an  oath  similar  to  that  required  by  law  of  members  of 
County  Boards  of  Equalization.  Their  compensation  shall  be 
fixed  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  11.  Said  Board  shall  have  the  power  and  duty  to  hear 
complaints  and  appeals,  and  to  adjust,  correct  and  equalize  the 
valuations  and  assessments  of  any  taxable  property,  real  or  per- 
sonal, within  the  City  and  to  assess  and  equalize  the  value  of  any 
taxable  property,  real  or  personal,  within  the  City  and  to  assess 
and  equalize  the  value  of  any  taxable  property,  real  or  personal, 
omitted  from  the  assessment  books  then  under  examination 
by  them,  and  to  adjust  and  correct  the  assessment  books  accord- 
ingly; provided,  that  if  said  Board  proposes  to  increase  any 
assessment  or  to  assess  any  such  omitted  property,  it  shall  give 
notice  of  the  fact  to  the  person  owning  or  controlling  the  prop- 
erty affected,  his  agent  or  representative,  by  personal  notice,  by 
mail,  or  by  advertisement,  specifying  when  and  where  a  h.earing 
shall  be  granted. 

Sec.  12.    When  the  assessment  books  are  completed  the  .Asses- 
sor shall  give  two  weeks'  notice  in  at  least  two  daily  newspapers 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 37 

that  said  books  are  open  for  inspection,  and   stating  when  the 
Board  of  Equalization  will  be  in  session. 

Sec.  13.  The  said  Board  shall  meet  on  or  before  the  third 
Monday  in  March,  annually,  and  remain  in  continuous  session  for 
at  least  three  hours  in  the  forenoon  and  at  least  three  hours  in 
the  afternoon  of  each  day,  except  Sunday,  for  four  weeks  and 
no  longer.  It  shall  have  power  to  subpoena  witnesses  and  order 
the  production  of  books  and  papers,  and  any  member  may  ad- 
minister oaths,  in  relation  to  any  matter  within  its  jurisdic- 
tion. It  shall  hear  and  determine  all  appeals  summarily,  and 
keep  a  record  of  .its  proceedings  which  shall  remain  in  the  as- 
sessment division. 

Sec.  14.  Any  person  may  appeal  in  writing  to  the  Board  of 
Equalization  from  the  assessment  of  his  property,  specifying  the 
matter  of  which  he  complains. 

Sec.  15.  After  the  assessment  books  have  been  corrected  the 
Assessor  shall  make  an  abstract  thereof  showing  the  amount  of 
the  several  kinds  of  property  assessed  and  specifying  the  amount 
of  value  of  all  taxable  property  within  the  City,  and  certify 
thereon  that  the  same  is  a  true  and  correct  abstract  of  all  such 
property  in  the  City  so  far  as  he  lias  been  able  to  ascertain.  One 
copy  of  the  abstract,  verified  by  his  oath,  shall  be  delivered  on 
or  before  the  fourth  Mondav  in  May  to  the  Mayor,  and  another 
to  the  State  Auditor.  The  Assessor  shall  extend  in  said  assess- 
ment books  the  State,  school  and  city  taxes  and  include  in  said 
books  such  matter  as  the  law  shall  provide  or  the  Comptroller 
require.  The  Assessor  shall  then  cause  tax  bills  to  be  made  out 
for  such  taxes  in  such  form  as  the  law  shall  provide  or  the  Comp- 
troller prescribe,  and  deliver  them  with  a  duplicate  schedule  there- 
of to  the  Comptroller,  who  shall  compare  said  bills  with  said  books 
and  schedule  and  test  the  footings,  and  then  officially  stamp  said 
bills  and  deliver  them  with  one  schedule  to  the  collector,  and 
take  his  separate  receipts :  one  for  the  aggregate  of  said  bills,  and 
another  for  the  State  taxes,  which  last  receipt  the  Comptroller 
shall  transmit  to  the  State  Auditor. 

Sec.  16.  The  Comptroller  shall  hear  and  determine  all  com- 
plaints of  manifest  error  in  the  assessment  of  property  for  taxes, 
and  in  all  cases  when  it  shall  appear  that  any  property,  real  or  per- 
sonal, has  been  erroneously  assessed,  cause  the  same  to  be  cpf- 

21.0676 


38 CirARTRR  or  the  City  of  St,  Louis 

rected  on  the  assessment  books,  and  certify  to  the  State  Auditor 
all  such  corrections  for  credit  to  the  Collector.  The  Comptroller 
shall  perform  all  duties  and  acts  within  the  City,  in  regard  to  the 
"land  delinquent  list,"  the  "sale  of  land  for  taxes,"  and  the  assess- 
ment books  and  tax  bills  that  are  imposed  on  county  courts  by 
general  law ;  and  make  out  the  "back  tax  books"  and  the  back 
tax  bills  required  by  law. 

Sec.  17.  The  costs  and  expenses  of  the  assessment  for  each 
year  shall  be  paid  by  the  City.  The  Comptroller  shall,  as  soon 
as  the  amount  is  ascertained,  certify  the  same  to  the  State 
Auditor  and  obtain  his  warrant  in  favor  of  the  City  for  one- 
half  thereof  as  provided  by  law. 

Sec.  18.  The  day  after  any  instrument  affecting  the  title  to 
real  estate  is  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Recorder  of  Deeds,  the 
Recorder  shall  deliver  to  the  Assessor  an  abstract  thereof  and 
to  the  Board  of  Public  Service  a  copy  of  such  abstract.  The 
Assessor  shall  promptly  change  the  plats  in  his  division  ac- 
cordingly. 

Sec.  19.  COLLECTION  DIVISION.  The  Collection  Divi- 
sion shall  consist  of  the  Collector  and  such  deputies  and  em- 
ployes as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  20.  The  Collector  shall  have  the  qualifications  provided 
with  regard  to  the  Mayor  and  be  the  head  of  the  Collection  Divi- 
sion. He  shall  receive  such  compensation  as  may  be  provided 
by  law  or  ordinance.  He  shall  collect  all  State,  City  and  school 
taxes,  wharfage,  water  rates  and  dramshop  licenses,  and  may 
collect  special  assessments,  and,  unless  otherwise  provided  by 
ordinance,  all  indebtedness  and  claims  due  the  City,  and  daily 
pay  the  same  to  the  City  Treasurer,  except  the  State  taxes 
which  shall  be  paid  by  him  as  provided  by  law,  and  except  the 
school  taxes  which  shall  be  paid  by  him  to  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion of  the  City  monthly,  or  oftener  when  required  in  writing 
by  the  Treasurer  of  said  Board.  He  shall  collect  license  taxes 
as  permitted  by  law.  He  shall  appoint  the  deputies  and  em- 
ployes in  his  division.  Each  deputy  shall  have  all  the  powers 
of  the  Collector,  subject  to  his  control. 

Sec.  21.  The  Collector,  before  entering  upon  the  duties  of 
his  oflfice,  shall  give  bond  to  the  State,  as  required  by  law,  and 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  39 

to  the  City,  as  may  be  required  b}-  ordinance.  Said  bond  to  the 
State  shall  be  executed  in  duplicate  and  one  filed  with  the 
Comptroller  and  the  other  with  the  State  Auditor. 

Sec.  22.  The  payment  of  all  city  and  school  taxes  may  be 
enforced  in  like  manner  as  may  be  provided  by  law  for  enforc- 
ing- the  payment  of  State  taxes. 

Sec.  23.  TRE.ASURY  DIVISION.  The  Treasury  Division 
shall  consist  of  the  Treasurer,  and  such  deputies  and  employes 
as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  24.  The  Treasurer  shall  have  the  qualifications  provided 
with  regard  to  the  Mayor  and  be  the  head  of  the  treasury  divi- 
sion. He  shall  receive  a  salary  of  five  thousand  dollars  per 
annum ;  before  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  give  bond 
to  the  City  for  at  least  one  hundred  thousand  dollars ;  and  appoint 
the  deputies  and  employes  in  his  division.  He  shall  receive  and 
keep  the  money  of  the  City,  and  pay  out  the  same  on  warrants 
drawn  by  the  Comptroller  and  not  otherwise.  All  money  belong- 
ing to  the  City  received  by  any  officer  or  agent  thereof  shall  be 
deposited  daily  in  the  Treasury  Division  unless  otherwise  pro- 
vided by  law  or  ordinance,  and  any  delinquency  in  this  respect 
shall  be  reported  promptly  by  the  Treasurer  to  the  Mayor  and 
to  the  Comptroller.  The  Treasurer  shall  deliver  duplicate  re- 
ceipts for  all  money  received,  one  to  the  party  paying,  the  other 
to  the  Comtroller,  stating  the  source,  the  amount,  and  to  what 
account  credited.  The  Treasurer  shall  daily  rep<^rt  the  balance 
in  the  treasury  to  the  Comptroller  and  to  the  Mayor. 

Sec.  25.  Depositaries  of  the  City  funds  shall  be  selected  and 
deposits  made  therein  as  provided  by  law  or  by  ordinance  rec- 
ommended by  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment. 

Sec  26.  SUPPLY  DIVISION.  The  Supply  Division  shall 
consist  of  the  Supply  Commissioner  and  such  deputies  and  em- 
ployes as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  27.  The  Supply  Commissioner  shall  be  the  iicad  of  the 
Supply  Division,  receive  a  salary  of  five  thousand  dollars  per 
annum;  give  bond  as  required  by  ordinance;  and  appoint  the 
deputies  and  employes  in  his  division. 

Sec.  28.  The  Comptroller,  Supply  Commissioner  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Public  Service  shall  personally  or  by  deputy 


40  ClIARTKR  OF  THE  CiTY  OF  ST.  LouIS 


constitute  the  Dnard  of  vStaiidardizalion,  vvliosc  duty  it  shall  be 
to  classify  and  standardize  all  supplies  and  materials  purchased 
by  the  City  or  used  for  municipal  purposes,  and  prepare  precise 
specifications  for  all  supplies  to  be  purchased  through  the  Supply 
Division.  The  Board  may  maintain  such  laboratories  or  other 
methods  of  testing  as  may  be  necessary. 

Sec.  29.  Supplies  for  all  departments,  boards  or  offices,  exclu- 
sive of  material  for  public  work  or  improvements,  shall  be  pur- 
chased only  through  the  Supply  Division,  according  to  such  stand- 
ards and  specifications,  if  any,  adopted  or  prepared  by  the  Board 
of  Standardization,  and  by  advertising  for  proposals  therefor. 
Bids  may  be  for  one  or  more,  or  all  the  articles  advertised  for,  but 
there  shall  be  a  specific  bid  on  each  article.  The  award  may  be 
made  to  the  lowest  bidder  for  any  article  or  to  the  lowest  bidder 
for  the  entire  requisition  or  any  part  thereof;  but  the  Board  of 
Standardization  may  reject  any  or  all  bids  or  any  part  of  any 
bid.  The  Supply  Commissioner  may  contract  for  supplies  in 
any  amounts  or  for  any  periods  as  may  be  approved  by  the 
Board  of  Standardization,  and  subject  to  the  ])rovisions  of  this 
Charter.  In  cases  of  emergency^  to  be  determined  by  said 
Board,  purchases  may  be  made  without  advertising.  Pur- 
chases in  amounts  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars  under 
any  one  contract  may  also  be  made,  with  the  written  approval 
of  the  Comptroller,  without  advertising,  after  securing  com- 
petitive bids,  but  there  shall  be  no  division  of  requisitions  or 
contracts  for  the  purpose  of  securing  this  privilege.  The 
Supply  Commissioner  shall  inspect  and  receipt  for  all  supplies. 

Supplies  shall  not  be  ordered  or  contracted  for  by  the  Supply 
Division  unless  the  Comptroller  shall  certify  that  a  fund  is  appli- 
cable for  payment  thereof. 

Sec.  30.  The  Supply  Commissioner  shall  have  general  super- 
vision of  the  public  printing  and  publishing  and  shall  see  that  it 
is  executed  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance,  letting  the  contract 
or  contracts  to  the  lowest  bidder  in  conformity  with  the  provi- 
sions of  this  article  so  far  as  they  may  be  applicable.  Until  other- 
wise provided  by  ordinance,  and  except  in  condemnation  pro- 
ceedings, all  newspaper  publishing  shall  be  in  at  least  two  daily 
newspapers,  one  in  the  English  and  one  in  the  German  lang- 
uage. Provision  may  be  made  by  ordinance  for  the  City  doing 
its  own  printing  and  publishing. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  41 

ARTICLE  XVL 

Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment. 

Section  1.  There  shall  be  a  Board  of  Estimate  and  Appor- 
tionment which  shall  consist  of  the  Mayor,  Comptroller  and 
President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  It  shall  keep  a  record 
of  its  proceedings  and  appoint  an  employe  of  the  Comptroller's 
office  to  act  as  secretary  without  additional  compensation. 

Sec.  2.  The  head  of  every  department,  board  or  office  shall 
furnish  to  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  such 
statements  of  receipts  and  expenses  and  estimates  of  receipts 
and  requirements,  of  such  department,  board  or  office,  as  said 
Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  may  require. 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  shall  sub- 
mit to  the  Board  of  Aldermen,  at  the  beginning  of  its  annual 
session  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  possible,  a  statement  showing 
the  estimated  receipts  and  requirements  of  each  department, 
board  or  office  for  the  current  fiscal  year  and  a  comparative 
statement  of  receipts  and  expenses  during  the  previous  year, 
first  however,  affording  taxpayers  an  opportunity  to  be  heard 
thereon  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance. 

It  shall  also  annually  submit  and  recommend  to  the  Board  of 
Aldermen  a  bill  appropriating  the  amounts  deemed  necessary  for 
the  use  of  each  department,  board  and  office  for  the  current  fiscal 
year  and  a  bill  establishing  the  City  tax  rates  for  the  current  year  ; 
provided,  that  the  apjjropriations  for  payment  of  salaries  and 
compensation  of  officers  and  employes  may,  in  the  discretion  of 
the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment,  be  embodied  in  a 
separate  bill.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  immediately  pro- 
ceed to  the  consideration  of  said  bills  and  shall  meet  from  day 
to  day  until  they  are  finally  acted  uixjn.  If  such  tax  rates  be 
not  established  by  ordinance  on  or  before  the  fourth  Monday 
in  May  of  any  year,  the  rates  last  previously  established  shall 
be  the  rates  for  the  current  year.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  may 
reduce  the  amount  of  any  item  in  such  appropriation  bill,  except 
amounts  fixed  by  statute  or  for  the  payment  of  principal  or 
interest  of  the  City  del)t  or  for  meeting  any  ordinance  obliga- 
tions, but  it  may  not  increase  such  amount  imr  insert  new 
items. 


42 Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

Sec.  4.  All  approprialion.s  shall  be  specific  and  in  detail  and 
be  segregated  according  to  the  functions  or  kinds  of  work  for 
which  the  money  is  appropriated. 

Sec.  5.  Except  in  the  general  appropriation  bill  and  bills 
providing  for  the  payment  of  the  principal  or  interest  of  the  pub- 
lic debt,  no  appropriation  shall  be  made  from  any  revenue  fund 
in  excess  of  the  amount  standing  to  the  credit  of  such  fund,  and 
no  appropriation  shall  be  made  from  any  fund  for  any  purpose 
to  which  the  money  therein  is  not  lawfully  applicable. 

Sec.  6.  Any  accruing,  unappropriated  City  revenue  may  be 
appropriated  from  time  to  time  by  ordinance  recommended  by 
the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment ;  and  whenever  an 
appropriation  exceeds  the  amount  required  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  has  been  made,  the  excess  or  any  portion  or  portions 
thereof  may  by  ordinance  recommended  by  the  Board  of  Esti- 
mate and  Apportionment  be  appropriated  to  any  other  purpose 
or  purposes. 

Sec.  7.  All  unexpended  appropriated  money,  not  appro- 
priated by  special  ordinance  for  a  specific  purpose,  shall  at  the 
end  of  the  current  fiscal  year  revert  to  the  fund  or  funds  from 
which  the  appropriation  was  made. 

Sec.  8.  A  fiscal  year  as  mentioned  in  this  Charter  shall  com- 
mence on  the  second  Tuesday  in  April  of  each  year,  or  at  such 
other  time  as  may  be  provided  by  ordinance  recommended  by  the 
Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment. 

ARTICLE  XVII. 

City  Bonds. 

Section  1.  Some  of  the  purposes,  hereby  specifically  author- 
ized, for  which  bonds  of  the  City  may  be  issued  and  given,  sold, 
pledged  or  disposed  of  on  the  credit  of  the  City  or  solely  upon 
the  credit  of  specific  property  owned  by  the  City  or  solely  upon 
the  credit  of  income  derived  from  and  property  used  in  connec- 
tion with  any  public  utility  owned  or  operated  by  the  City  or 
upon  any  two  or  more  of  such  credits,  are  the  following: 

For  the  acquiring  of  land ;  for  the  purchase,  construction,  re- 
construction or  extension  of  water  works,  public  sewers,  build- 
ings for  the  fire  department,  bridges  and  viaducts,  subways,  tun- 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  43 

nels,  railroads,  street  railroads,  terminals,  ferries,  docks,  wharves, 
warehouses,  gas  or  electric  light  works,  power  plants,  telephone 
and  telegraph  systems,  or  any  other  public  utility ;  for  hos- 
pitals, insane  asylums,  orphan  asylums,  poorhouses,  indus- 
trial schools,  jails,  workhouses,  and  other  charitable,  correc- 
tive and  penal  institutions;  for  court  houses,  and  other  public 
buildings,  public  parks,  parkways,  boulevards,  grounds, 
squares,  river  and  other  public  improvements  which  the  City 
may  be  authorized  or  permitted  to  make;  and  for  paying, 
refunding  or  renewing  any  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  City. 
The  foregoing  enumeration  shall  not  be  construed  to  limit  any 
general  provisions  of  this  Charter  authorizing  the  City  to  bor- 
row money,  or  issue  and  dispose  of  bonds,  and  such  general  pro- 
visions shall  be  construed  according  to  the  lull  force  and  effect 
of  their  language  as  if  no  specific  purposes  had  been  mentioned  ; 
and  the  authority  to  issue  bonds  for  any  of  the  purposes  afore- 
said is  cumulative  and  shall  not  be  construed  to  impair  any 
authority  to  make  any  public  improvements  under  any  provisions 
of  this  Charter   or  of  any  law. 

Sec.  2.  Bonds  may  be  so  issued  as  to  be  payable  serially  or 
subject  to  call. 

Sec.  3.  No  bonds  of  the  City,  except  bonds  for  paying,  refund- 
ing or  renewing  bonded  indebtedness,  and  except  bonds  payable 
only  from  proceeds  of  special  assessments  for  local  improvements, 
shall  be  issued  without  the  assent  of  two-thirds  of  the  voters  of 
the  City  voting  at  an  election  to  be  held  for  that  purpose.  All 
forms,  proceedings  and  other  matters  with  respect  to  any  such 
election  and  the  amounts,  purposes,  issue  and  disposition  of  bonds 
may  be  prescribed  by  ordinance  recommended  by  the  Board  of 
Estimate  and  Apportionment. 

It  shall  not  be  necessary  in  the  ordinance  calling  the  election, 
in  the  notice  of  election,  in  the  question  submitted,  or  on  the  bal- 
lot, or  in  any  of  the  matters  preceding  the  said  election,  to  state 
the  amount  of  bonds  proposed  to  be  issued  for  each  purpose,  but 
it  shall  be  sufficient  if  tlie  ordinance  and  notice  of  election  state 
the  total  amount  of  the  bonds  proposed  to  be  voted  upon  at  the 
said  election  and  in  general  language  the  purpose  or  purposes 
for  which  such  total  amount  of  bonds  is  to  be  issued,  and  if  two- 
thirds  of  the  voters  of  the  City  voting  at  such  election  assent 


44  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

to  the  issuance  of  such  amount  of  bonds,  then  such  amount  may 
be  issued  and  such  bonds  or  the  proceeds  thereof  may  from 
time  to  time,  by  ordinance  recommended  by  the  Board  of  Esti- 
mate and  Apportionment,  be  appropriated  in  any  amount  or 
amounts  to  the  purpose  or  purposes  for  which  such  total  amount 
was  voted. 

Sec.  4.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  annually  levy  a  tax  which 
will  yield  not  less  than  one  million  two  hundred  thousand  dollars 
to  be  used  exclusively  for  the  payment  of  the  bonded  indebtedness 
of  the  City  existing  on  the  seventh  day  of  April,  1890,  and  re- 
newals thereof  and  interest  thereon.  That  portion  of  each  such 
annual  tax  levy  not  required  for  the  payment  of  the  interest  ma- 
turing during  the  year  on  said  bonded  indebtedness  and  renew- 
als, shall  be  credited  to  and  shall  constitute  a  sinking  fund  to 
be  used  exclusively  for  the  payment  of  said  bonded  indebted- 
ness and  renewals.  Such  levy  need  not  be  made  except  for  such 
interest  after  the  amount  in  such  sinking  fund  is  sufficient  to  pay 
all  such  bonded  indebtedness  and  renewals  at  maturity.  The 
Board  of  Aldermen  shall  annually  levy  taxes  sufficient  to  meet 
the  sinking  fund  and  interest  requirements  of  each  bond  issue. 

Sec.  5.  In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  until  there  is  a  sufficient 
sum  in  a  sinking  fund  or  funds  to  pay  the  "St.  Louis  Water 
Bonds"  and  renewals  thereof  and  applicable  thereto,  the  whole  net 
income  from  the  water  works  in  excess  of  what  may  be  necessary 
for  (1)  the  ordinary  construction,  reconstruction,  extension,  oper- 
ation and  repair  of  the  water  works  and  facilities,  (2)  the  inter- 
est on  said  water  bonds,  and  (3)  the  running  expenses  of  the 
water  division,  shall  be  credited  to,  and  with  the  sinking  funds 
heretofore  created  therefor  constitute,  a  sinking  fund  to  be 
used  exclusively  for  the  payment  of  said  "St.  Louis  Water 
Bonds"  and  renewals. 

Sec.  6.  The  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  sliall  ad- 
minister all  sinking  funds  and  in  the  course  thereof  may  pur- 
chase with  any  sinking  fund,  as  an  investment  therefor,  bonds 
of  the  City,  State  or  United  States,  preferably  City  bonds,  and 
may  provide  for  the  payment  of  maturing  bonds  out  of  the  sink- 
ing fund  created  therefor,  and  to  that  end  sell  bonds  held  in 
such  sinking  fund;  provided,  that  all  bonds  purchased  with  the 
particular  sinking  fund  created  therefor  shall  not  be  regarded 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  45 

as  an  investment  or  be  reissued,  but  shall  be  canceled.  Bonds 
forming  part  of  any  sinking  fund  and  not  required  to  be  can- 
celed shall  be  deposited  in  a  safe  deposit  vault  in  the  City  to 
which  access  can  be  had  only  by  at  least  two  members  of  the 
Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  jointly,  one  of  whom 
shall  be  the  Comptroller.  All  interest  earned  on  investments  or 
deposits  belonging  to  any  sinking  fund  shall  belong  to  such  fund. 
Whenever  the  amount  in  any  sinking  fund  exceeds  an  amount 
sufficient  to  pay  all  the  bonds  for  which  such  fund  is  created, 
the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment  may  transfer  the 
excess  to  other  sinking  funds. 

Sec.  7.  All  warrants  for  the  payment  of  bonded  indebtedness 
or  for  disbursements  out  of  any  sinking  fund  shall  be  approved 
bv  the  Mavor  and  President  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 


ARTICLE  XVIIL 

Efficiency  Board. 

Section  1.  J  here  is  hereby  established  an  i\fficicncy  Board, 
consisting  of  three  members  who  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
Mayor  for  terms  of  one,  two  and  three  years  respectively. 
Each  year  thereafter  the  Mayor  shall  appoint  one  member 
to  serve  for  three  years  and  until  his  successor  shall  qualify. 
No  more  than  two  members  shall  be  adherents  of  the  same 
political  party,  and  no  person  holding  any  salaried  public 
office  shall  be  eligible  to  appointment  as  a  member. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  shall  designate  one  of  its  meml)crs  as 
chairman,  shall  appoint  a  secretary  and  may  appoint  such 
other  officers  and  employes  as  may  be  necessary.  The  sal- 
ary of  the  secretary  and  other  officers  and  employes  shall 
be  fixed  by  the  Board. 

Sec.  3.  The  service  of  the  City  is  hereby  divided  into  the 
unclassified  (not  subject  to  the  examination  herein  provided) 
and  the  classified  service. 

(1)  The  unclassified  service  shall  include: 

(a)  All  officers  elected  by  the  peoi)le ; 

(b)  All  heads  of  departments,  offices  and  divisions; 


46  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

(c)  The  members  of  all  boards  appointed  by  the  Mayor, 

or  serving  without  compensation,  however  ap- 
pointed ; 

(d)  One  secretary,  deputy  or  assistant  and  one  stenog- 

rapher for  each  officer  or  Board  in  the  unclassi- 
fied service,  who  are  or  may  be  provided  by  ordi- 
nance with  such  subordinates; 

(e)  All  officers  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen; 

(f)  Surgeons,  physicians  or  other  experts  serving  in  a 

consulting  or  other  capacity  without  compensa- 
tion. 

(g)  In  addition  to  the  above,  on  the  unanimous  vote  of 

the  Board,  there  may  be  included  in  the  unclas- 
sified service  such  other  offices  or  positions  re- 
quiring exceptional  scientific,  mechanical,  profes- 
sional or  educational  qualifications  as  may  be 
ordered  by  rule  of  the  Board. 

(2)  The  classified  service  shall  comprise  all  not  specifically 
included  by  this  Charter  in  the  unclassified  service. 

Sec.  4.  The  Board  shall  prescribe,  amend  and  enforce  rules 
for  the  classified  service,  shall  keep  minutes  of  its  proceed- 
ings and  records  of  its  examinations,  and  shall  make  investi- 
gations concerning  the  enforcement  and  effect  of  these  efifi- 
ciency  provisions  and  of  the  rules  thereunder.  It  shall  make 
an  annual  report  to  the  Mayor. 

The  rules  shall  provide  among  other  things : 

(a)  For  the  classification  and  standardization  of  all  positions 
in  the  classified  service. 

(b)  For  open  competitive  examinations  and  tests,  with  pub- 
lic notice  thereof,  to  test  the  relative  fitness  of  applicants  for 
positions  in  the  classified  seivice  and  for  reasonable  regula- 
tions concerning  promotion,  w^hich  shall  include  the  recogni- 
tion of  efficient  prior  service. 

(c)  For  the  rejection  of  candidate:^  who  fail  to  comply  with 
reasonable  requirements  as  to  age,  residence,  sex,  phy.sical 
condition  and  moral  character. 

(d)  For  the  certification,  as  occasion  may  require,  to  the 
appointing  authority,  from  the  appropriate  eligible  list  (com- 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  47 

posed  of  the  names  of  successful  applicants  in  the  order  of 
their  standing-  in  examinations  or  tests)  of  the  three  persons 
standing-  highest  on  such  list,  or  of  the  person  or  persons  on 
such  list  when  it  contains  three  names  or  less. 

(e)  For  temporary  employment  for  not  exceeding  sixty 
days,  without  examination,  in  the  absence  of  an  eligible  list. 

Cf)  For  transfer  from  a  position  to  a  similar  position  in  the 
same  class  and  grade,  and  for  reinstatement  on  the  eligible 
list  of  persons  who,  without  fault  or  delinquency  on  their 
part,  are  separated  from  the  service  or  reduced  in  rank. 

(g)  For  the  appointment  of  unskilled  laborers  in  the  prior- 
ity of  application  after  such  tests  of  fitness  as  the  Board  may 
prescribe. 

(h)  For  investigating  and  keeping  a  record  of  the  efficiency 
of  officers  and  employes  in  the  classified  service,  and  for  re- 
quiring  reports   relative   thereto   from   appointing  officers. 

(i)  For  the  publication  of  the  rules  of  the  Board. 

Sec.  5.  The  Board  shall  maintain  a  list  of  all  persons  in  the 
City  service,  showing  in  connection  with  each  name  the  posi- 
tion held,  the  date  and  character  of  appointment,  and  of 
every  subsequent  change  in  status.  Each  appointing  officer 
shall  promptly  transmit  to  the  Board  all  information  required 
by  it  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  said  list. 

Sec.  6.  -Ml  examinations  shall  be  practical  and  impartial 
and  relate  solely  to  matters  .which  will  reasonably  test,  in  a 
practical  way,  the  ability  of  the  persons  examined  to  perform 
the  duties  of  the  position  for  which  appointment  is  sought. 
The  Board  may  call  on  other  persons  to  fratrie  questions 
and  conduct  any  examinations  or  tests  and  report  the  result 
thereof  to  it. 

Sec.  7.  The  appointing  officer  may  suspend  or  discharge  or 
reduce  in  rank  or  compensation  any  officer  or  employe  under 
him,  with  or  without  cause,  except  as  in  this  Charter  is  other- 
wise provided.  Should  the  officer  or  employe  thus  aflfected 
request  it,  the  employing  officer  shall  furnish  him  with  a  writ- 
ten statement  of  the  reason  or  reasons  therefor,  and  file  a 
copy  thereof  with  the  Efficiency  Board. 


48  CiiAin'KK  <)!■  Tiiiv  City  oi'  St.  Louis 


Sec.  8.  No  appointment  or  promotion  in  the  classified  serv- 
ice shall  be  made  except  from  names  certified  I)y  the  Board  as 
herein  provided,  or  as  herein  provided  for  temporary  service. 

Sec.  9.  All  persons  in  the  City  service  holding  positions  in 
the  classified  service,  as  established  by  this  article,  at  the  time 
this  Charter  takes  efifect,  shall  be  entitled  to  retain  their  posi- 
tion until  discharged,  reduced,  promoted  or  transferred  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  provisions  of  this  Charter.  Employes  of 
any  public  utility  which  may  at  any  time  in  the  future  be 
taken  over  by  the  City,  who  are  in  the  service  of  said  utility 
at  the  time  of  such  acquisition,  shall  come  under  the  provi- 
sions of  this  efficiency  system  without  examination,  but  va- 
cancies thereafter  occurring  in  said  public  utility  service  shall 
be  filled  as  herein  provided. 

Sec.  10.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  the  treasurer  or  other  pub- 
lic disbursing  officer  to  pay  any  salary  or  compensation  for 
service  to  any  person  holding  a  position  in  the  classified  serv- 
ice unless  such  person  is  holding  such  position  in  conformity 
with  the  provisions  of  this  article. 

Sec.  11.  In  any  investigation  conducted  by  the  Board  it 
shall  have  the  power  to  subpoena  witnesses  and  order  the  pro- 
duction of  books  and  papers  pertinent  to  the  investigation  and 
to  administer  oaths. 

Sec.  12.  No  person  in  the  classified  service  or  seeking  ad- 
mission thereto  shall  be  appointed,  reduced,  suspended,  dis- 
charged or  in  any  way  favored  or  discriminated  against  be- 
cause of  his  political  or  religious  opinions  or  affiliations. 

Sec.  13.  Any  person  who  shall  wilfully,  by  himself  or  in 
co-operation  with  any  other  person  or  persons,  defeat,  de- 
ceive or  obstruct  any  person  in  respect  of  his  right  of  examina- 
tion according  to  any  of  the  rules  prescribed  by  the  Efficiency 
Board  under  this  Article,  or  who  shall  wilfully  and  falsely 
mark,  grade,  estimate  or  report  upon  the  examination  or  prop- 
er standing  of  any  person  examined  hereunder  or  aid  in  so 
doing,  or  who  shall  wilfully  make  any  false  representations 
concerning  the  same  or  concerning  the  person  examined,  or 
who  shall  wilfully  furnish  to  any  person  any  secret  informa- 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  49 

tion  for  the  purpose  of  either  improving  or  injuring  the  pros- 
pects or  chances  of  any  person  so  examined,  or  to  be  examined, 
being  appointed,  employed  or  promoted,  or  who  shall  solicit 
directly  or  indirectly  any  assessment  or  contribution  for  any 
political  party  from  any  person  in  the  classified  service,  shall 
for  each  such  offense  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and 
upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  punished  by  a  fine  of  not 
less  than  ten  dollars  nor  more  than  five  hundred  dollars,  or  by 
imprisonment  for  not  more  than  one  hundred  days,  or  by  both 
such  fine  and  imprisonment. 

ARTICLE  XIX. 
Franchises, 

Section  L  All  grants  or  renewals  of  franchises  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  the  right  to  amend,  alter  or  repeal  the  same  in  whole  or 
in  part,  and  to  forfeit  the  same  at  any  time  for  misuse  or  nonuse ; 
and  subject  always  to  the  City's  power  of  taxation  and  its 
authority  to  regulate  rates,  quality  of  use,  service  and  products, 
and  methods  of  conduct  and  operation;  subject  also  to  the  right 
of  the  City  at  the  end  of  ten  years  after  the  beginning  of  opera- 
tion and  at  the  end  of  every  five  year  period  thereafter,  at  its 
option  to  be  exercised  by  ordinance,  to  acquire  the  plant  and 
property  used  in  the  operation  of  the  franchise,  upon  terms  and 
conditions  to  be  ascertained  in  the  manner  provided  in  the  grant- 
ing or  renewing  ordinance,  but  in  no  event  is  the  franchise  itself 
to  enter  as  an  element  into  such  compensation.  Upon  such  ac- 
quisition the  franchise  shall  cease.  Every  such  grant  shall  cease 
unless  construction  thereunder  is  begun  within  the  time  speci- 
fied in  the  ordinance  and  completed  with  reasonable  speed,  and 
no  grant  shall  be  exclusive  or  for  a  longer  term  than  fifty  years. 
Any  ordinance  granting  ov  renewing  a  franchise  may  also  provide 
for  regulating,  from  time  t(^  time,  the  amount  of  capitalization,  in- 
debtedness and  expendituri's  of  the  grantee  or  assignee  in  operat- 
ing thereunder.  Such  ordinance  may  also  provide  that  the  franchise 
shall  be  sold  at  public  sale,  and  nothing  in  any  sucii  ordinance 
shall  prevent  the  City  from  acquiring  the  property  of  any  such 
utility  by  condenniation  ]jroceeflings  or  in  any  other  lawful  way 
subject  to  the  limitation  of  time  herein  provided. 

Every  grantee  of  a  franchise  for  any  public  utility  shall  kecji 


50 Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

such  reports  of  its  finances  and  operations  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  ordinance,  and  the  City  may,  at  any  time,  examine  its  rec- 
ords and  accounts.  No  ordinance  granting  or  renewing  a  fran- 
chise shall  be  adopted  until  a  report  thereon  in  the  form  in  which 
it  is  put  upon  Its  adoption  has  been  made  to  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men by  the  Board  of  Public  Service  with  its  recommendations 
as  to  the  action  that  should  be  had  thereon,  nor  until  the  bill 
and  the  j-eport  of  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  or  a  fair  sum- 
mary thereof,  shall  have  been  published  as  provided  by  ordi- 
nance. No  franchise  shall  be  assignable  except  with  the  City's 
approval  expressed  by  ordinance. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  shall  at  all  times  have  full 
})Ower,  to  be  exercised  by  ordinance,  over  all  public  utilities 
now  or  hereafter  existing  in  the  City,  and  may  regulate  the 
charges  for  the  use,  service  or  product  thereof  and  establish 
whatever  requirements  may  be  necessary  to  secure  efficient 
use,  service  or  products,  and  no  terms  or  conditions  contained 
in  any  grant  shall  limit  or  impair  this  power. 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  shall,  in  the  granting  or 
renewal  of  any  franchise  as  herein  provided,  prescribe  or  pro- 
vide for  the  character  of  construction  and  equipment,  the  kind 
and  quality  of  use,  service  or  product  to  be  furnished ;  the  rate  to 
be  charged  therefor ;  manner  in  which  the  streets,  public  grounds, 
or  other  public  property  shall  be  used  or  occupied;  and  any 
other  terms  and  conditions  in  the  interest  of  the  public,  including, 
among  others,  provision  for  compensation  to  the  City  for  the 
use  of  such  streets,  public  grounds  or  property,  based  on  a  share 
in  the  gross  or  net  receipts,  or  on  the  number  of  passengers  trans- 
ported, or  number  of  cars  owned  or  operated,  or  on  any  one  or 
more  of  such  bases,  or  on  any  other  basis  or  bases. 

Sec.  4.  Street  railroad  companies  shall  keep  the  street  between 
the  rails  and  between  the  tracks  and  to  the  extent  of  at  least 
twelve  inches  outside  of  each  rail  in  perfect  repair,  and  as 
nearly  on  a  level  with  such  rails  as  practicable,  and  that  por- 
tion outside  the  rails  shall  be  of  the  same  material  as  the 
street  itself  or  such  other  material  as  may  be  approved  by  the 
Board  of  Public  Service,  and  give  such  bond  or  other  security 
for  compliance  with  the  provisions  of  this  section  as  may  be 
provided  by  ordinance. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Loufs 51 

vSec.  5.  Any  street  railroad  company  shall  have  the  right  to 
run  its  cars  over  the  track  of  any  other  street  railroarl  company 
in  whole  or  in  part,  upon  the  payment  of  just  compensation  for 
the  use  thereof,  under  such  rules  and  regulations  as  may  be  pro- 
vided by  ordinance. 

ARTICLE  XX. 

License  Taxes. 

License  taxes  may  be  imposed  by  ordinance  upon  mer- 
chants, commission  merchants,  manufacturers,  professions, 
auctioneers,  hotels,  restaurants,  assembly  buildings,  halls  and 
gardens,  theaters,  moving  pictures,  exhibitions,  circuses,  slot 
machines,  dance  halls,  billiard  and  pool  rooms,  museums, 
shooting  galleries,  bowling  alleys,  retailers  of  beer,  wine  gar- 
dens, beer  gardens,  saloons,  dramshops,  brewers,  distillers, 
agents,  real  estate  agents,  mercantile  agents,  second-hand  deal- 
ers, junk  dealers,  junk  peddlers,  photographers,  contractors, 
insurance  companies,  telephone  companies,  telegraph  compa- 
nies, steam  railroad  companies,  electric  and  all  other  kinds  of 
railroad  companies,  gas  companies,  electric  companies,  cold- 
storage  companies,  pipe  lines,  public  utilities,  pipes,  poles, 
wires  or  conduits  of  public  utility  companies,  livery  stables, 
sales  stables,  public  garages,  aerial  transportation  vehicles, 
public  vehicles,  private  vehicles,  bicycles,  street  raihvav  cars, 
public  automobiles.  [)ri\atc  automobiles,  automobile  dealers, 
ferry  and  other  boats,  peddlers,  hawkers,  hucksters,  billboards, 
publishers,  newspapers,  railroad  ticket  brokers,  pawnbrokers 
and  those  engaged  in  loaning  money,  lenders  on  chattel  mort- 
gages, intelligence  offices,  agencies,  rectifiers,  undertakers, 
laundries,  dye  houses,  dry  cleaners,  engravers,  bankers  and 
banking  corporation.s,  safe  deposit  establishments,  trust  com- 
panies, bonding  companies,  brokers,  bond  and  stock  brokers, 
express  companies,  transfer  companies,  towel  supply  compa- 
nies, trading  stamp  companies,  slaughter  houses,  storage 
houses  and  barber  shops ;  and  a  separate  license  tax  may  be 
imposed  for  each  place  of  business  conducted  or  maintained 
by  the  same  person,  firm  or  corporation. 


52  Charter  oi<"  thk  City  or  St.  Louis 

The  foregoing  ciuinicration  shall  not  be  taken  to  affect  or 
impair  the  general  power  of  the  City  to  impose  license  taxes 
upon  any  business,  vocation,  pursuit  or  calling  or  any  class  or 
classes  thereof  now  or  hereafter  not  prohibited  by  law. 

ARTICLE  XXL 
Condemnation. 

Section  I.  Condemnation  of  or  damage  to  private  property, 
real  or  personal,  or  any  easement  or  use  therein,  for  public 
use,  shall  be  effected  as  herein  provided  and  as  may  be  fur- 
ther provided  by  ordinance  not  inconsistent  with  this  Char- 
ter. Upon  the  Board  of  Aldermen  providing  by  ordinance, 
recommended  by  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  (1)  for  the 
appropriation  of  any  private  property  or  any  easement  or  use 
therein  for  any  public  use,  or  (2)  for  any  public  improvement 
or  work  wdiich  will  damage  private  property,  the  City  Coun- 
selor, in  the  name  of  the  City,  shall  apply  promptly,  and  in 
no  event  later  than  six  months  after  such  ordinance  is  effect- 
ive, to  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  Eighth  Judicial  Circuit,  or  to 
any  judge  thereof  in  vacation,  by  petition  setting  forth  the 
general  nature  of  the  public  use  for  which  the  property  is  to 
be  appropriated  or  damaged,  a  description  of  the  property  and 
the  estate  or  interest  therein  in  each  instance  which  the  City 
seeks  to  appropriate  or  damage,  and  praying  the  appointment 
of  three  disinterested  commissioners  to  assess  damages  and 
benefits  as  hereinafter  provided,  to  which  petition  the  owners 
shall  be  made  defendants  by  name,  if  known,  and  if  unknown, 
by  describing  their  claims  and  interests  in  such  property  and 
how  derived  by  them.  If  the  action  affects  the  property  of 
persons  under  guardianship,  the  guardians  shall  be  made  de- 
fendants; if  the  property  of  married  women,  their  husbands 
shall  be  made  defendants ;  if  an  estate  or  interest  less  than  a 
fee,  the  persons  having  the  next  vested  estate  in  remainder  or 
reversion  shall  be  made  defendants  or  their  interests  will  not  be 
bound ;  but  only  persons  in  actual  possession  of  and  claiming 
title  or  who  have  record  title  appearing  upon  the  proper  rec- 
ords of  the  City  to  property  affected,  need  be  made  defend- 
ants. Notice  of  the  filing  of  the  petition,  describing  the  prop- 
erty to  be  taken  or  damaged,  shall  be  filed  and  recorded  in 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  53 

the  ofiTice  of  the  Recorder  of  Deeds,  otherwise  purchasers  of 
such  property  shall  not  be  bound  by  the  jiroceedins^s  under  the 
petition. 

Sec.  2.  Upon  the  llliiig  of  the  petition,  summons  shall 
be  issued,  giving  the  defendants  at  least  ten  days'  notice  of 
the  hearing  on  the  petition ;  and  the  City  Marshal  shall  serve 
such  summons  and  make  return  as  required  by  law  for  service 
and  return  of  writs  of  summons.  If  the  name  or  residence  of 
any  owner  be  unknown,  or  if  any  owner  does  not  reside  in 
the  State,  a  notice  giving  the  general  nature  of  the  petition, 
with  a  description  of  the  property  of  such  unknown  or  non- 
resident owners,  and  the  day  fixed  for  the  hearing,  shall  be 
published  once  each  week  for  four  consecutive  weeks,  the  last 
publication  to  be  at  least  ten  days  before  tlie  hearing,  in  the 
newspaper  publishing  at  the  time  the  notices  (jf  said  court. 

Sec.  3.  The  Coilrt,  or  a  judge  thereof  in  vacation,  when 
notice  has  been  given  as  herein  provided,  shall  appoint  three 
disinterested  commissioners,  freeholders  resident  in  the  City 
for  five  years  next  before  their  appointment,  to  assess  the  dam- 
ages which  the  owners  may  severally  sustain  by  such  taking 
or  damaging,  and  to  assess  benefits  as  hereinafter  mentioned ; 
provided,  that  the  court  or  judge  in  appointing  commissioners 
shall  exclude  from  their  consideration  the  assessment  of  all 
damages  for  the  trial  of  which  a  jury  has  been  duly  demanded. 

Any  party  entitled  to  and  desiring  trial  by  jury  of  his  rights 
to  compensation,  shall  file  in  the  cause,  before  the  appointment 
of  the  commissioners,  written  demand  therefor,  including 
therein  a  description  of  his  property  to  be  taken  or  damaged, 
and  failure  so  to  do  shall  be  a  waiver  of  the  right  of  trial  by 
jury.  Upon  such  demand  being  filed  the  Court  shall  award  a 
jury  trial  and  ])roceed  therewith  as  in  trials  of  civil  actions; 
but  before  final  judgment  shall  be  rendered  on  the  verdict  of 
the  jury  and  before  the  commissioners  shall  make  their  report, 
the  Court  shall  certif}-  the  verdict  of  the  jury  to  the  commis- 
sioners and  they  shall  include  in  their  report,  with  their  sep- 
arate findings,  assessments  and  awards,  the  damages  as  as- 
sessed by  the  jury,  reciting  the  fact.  The  claims  for  dainages 
of  all  parties  denianding  jury  trial  in  any  action  under  this 
article  shall  be  heard  at  the  same  time  before  one  jury.     The 


54 Charter  of  the  City  ov  St.  Louis 

commissioners  shall  assess  damages  for  property  appropriated 
or  damaged  for  the  trial  of  which  a  jury  is  not  demanded  as 
aforesaid. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  commissioners,  except  as 
herein  otherwise  provided,  in  the  condemnation  or  the  dam- 
aging of  property  for  highways,  streets,  boulevards,  parkways, 
alleys,  wharves,  sewers,  markets,  public  squares  and  parks,  or 
widening  or  enlarging  the  same,  or  in  the  changing  of  grade 
of  streets  or  other  public  ways  or  the  making  of  other  public 
work  or  improvements,  to  ascertain  the  value  of  the  property 
proposed  to  be  taken  and  the  actual  damage  done  to  private 
property,  but  no  allowance  shall  be  made  for  improvements 
begun  on  property  after  service  of  summons  on  or  notice  by 
publication  to  the  owner  thereof  as  herein  provided ;  and  the 
public  work,  improvement  or  use  contemplated  shall  not  be 
considered  in  determining  the  value  of  property  taken.  For 
the  payment  of  all  such  damages  the  commissioners  shall  as- 
sess against  all  the  lots  or  parcels  of  property  or  interests 
therein  especially  benefited  by  the  proposed  public  work  or 
improvement,  separately,  and  in  the  name  of  the  several  own- 
ers thereof,  the  amount  that  each  such  lot  or  parcel  of  prop- 
erty or  interest  therein  so  assessed  shall  be  especially  bene- 
fited by  the  proposed  public  work  or  improvement,  and  against 
the  City  the  balance  of  the  damages  over  and  above  the  afore- 
said special  benefits  assessed;  provided,  that  in  the  opening 
of  an  alley  there  shall  be  assessed  against  the  lots  or  parcels 
in  the  blocks  in  which  the  alley  is  opened  benefits  sufficient  to 
pay  all  damages. 

Sec.  5.  The  commissioners  shall  view  the  property  to  be 
taken,  damaged  or  assessed ;  fix  the  benefit  or  taxing  district ; 
publish  in  said  newspaper  for  ten  days  before  beginning  their 
assessment  a  notice  of  the  boundaries  of  the  benefit  or  taxing  dis- 
trict and  of  the  time  and  place  at  which  they  will  assess  such  dam- 
ages and  benefits ;  hear  the  evidence  submitted  by  the  parties 
interested ;  assess  the  damages  and  benefits  as  of  the  date 
said  ordinance  became  effective ;  and  make  report,  in  which  at 
least  two  commissioners  shall  concur,  of  such  assessment  in 
writing  and  under  oath  to  the  Circuit  Court.  In  such  report 
the  compensation  allowed  to  and  the  benefits  assessed  against 


Charter  of  the  City  or  St.  Louis  55 

each  owner  shall  be  separately  stated.  When  the  commission- 
ers both  assess  benefits  and  allow  damages  against  any  one 
property  owner  they  shall  deduct  the  lesser  from  the  greater. 

Sec.  6.  At  any  time  after  the  commissioners  file  their  re- 
port the  City  may  pay  into  court  the  amount  of  damages  as- 
sessed, less  benefits,  if  any,  and  thereupon  it  shall  be  entitled 
to  take  possession  of  or  damage  the  property,  assuming  the 
lien  of  all  general  taxes  not  then  payable  on  property  actually 
appropriated. 

Sec.  7.  Within  twenty  days  from  the  filing  of  the  commis- 
sioner's report,  exceptions  in  writing  thereto  may  be  filed  by 
any  party  interested,  and  upon  such  exceptions  the  Court  shall 
review  the  report  and  may  order,  on  cause  shown,  a  new  as- 
sessment by  other  commissioners,  or  make  such  other  orders 
thereon  as  justice  may  require.  The  Court  shall  hear  and  dis- 
pose of  such  exceptions  with  all  reasonable  speed  ;  and  may 
itself  assess  benefits  anew. 

Sec.  8.  The  Court  upon  approving  the  commissioners'  re- 
port shall  render  final  judgment  thereon  reciting  the  report 
and  adjudging  that  the  City  have  and  hold  the  property  peti- 
tioned for,  describing  the  same,  for  the  purposes  specified,  upon 
payment  of  the  damages  less  the  benefits  assessed  in  each  in- 
stance; that  so  much  of  the  report  as  is  a  judgment  for  bene- 
fits against  specific  property  be  a  lien  on  such  property  for  ten 
years  from  entry  of  the  judgment,  and  prior  to  all  other  liens 
thereon ;  and  that  the  City  recover  the  respective  benefits  in 
excess  of  damages  assessed  in  each  instance  against  private 
property  with  interest  from  date  of  judgment  and  have  execu- 
tion therefor.  The  Clerk  shall  forthwith  make  and  deliver  a  cer- 
tified copy  of  such  judgment  to  the  Comptroller,  who  shall  record 
the  same  in  a  book  kept  and  conveniently  indexed  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  Comptroller  may,  forthwith,  and  if  no  appeal  be 
taken  from  such  final  judgment,  he  shall,  at  the  expiration  of 
the  time  for  such  appeal,  forward  a  copy  of  the  judgment  to 
the  Board  of  Aldermen ;  and  within  sixty  days  after  the  receipt 
of  such  copy,  unless  an  appeal  is  peiuling,  and,  in  no  event  later 
than  sixty  days  after  disposition  of  all  appeals,  the  Roard  of 
Aldermen  shall  make  an  appropriation  for  the  payment  out  of 
the   City   Treasury   of   the  damages   assessed   in    favor  of  each 


56  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 


l)arty  entitled  less  his  benefits  as  determined  by  such  final  judg- 
nient,  and  the  City  Treasurer,  on  warrant  of  the  Comptroller, 
shall  cause  payment  to  be  made  to  the  several  parties  entitled 
or  into  court  for  their  use,  as  the  case  may  require. 

Should  the  Board  of  Aldermen  fail  to  make  such  an  appro- 
priation the  judgment  for  damages  shall  be  collected  by  the 
owners  concerned  as  other  judgments  against  the  City  are  col- 
lected ;  and  if  any  part  of  such  assessment  of  benefits  be  not 
paid  when  due,  special  execution  shall  issue  on  request  of  the 
Comptroller  against  the  property  charged  with  the  lien,  and 
proceedings  thereunder  shall  conform,  as  near  as  may  be,  to 
the  proceedings  under  special  executions  on  ordinary  judg- 
ments foreclosing  liens  on  lands. 

Should  any  such  final  judgment  be  reversed  on  appeal  and 
a  new  assessment  be  ordered,  the  City  or  any  defendant  shall 
have  judgment  for  any  excess  due  by  reason  of  payment  hav- 
ing been  made  by  such  party  under  a  prior  final  judgment  in 
the  cause. 

Sec.  9.  The  losing  party  shall  pay  the  costs  caused  by  litiga- 
tion subsequent  to  the  filing  of  the  Commissioners'  report  and 
the  City  shall  pay  all  other  costs,  including  the  compensation  of 
the  Commissioners,  which  shall  be  five  dollars  per  day  for 
each  Commissioner  for  not  exceeding  five  days  in  any  one  action 
unless  the  Court  makes  an  order  allowing  further  time  at  like 
compensation. 

Sec.  10.  If  the  City  dismisses  any  action  for  condemnation 
for  any  reason  other  than  defect  in  the  proceedings,  it  shall  not 
begin  a  like  action  within  ten  years  after  such  dismissal,  unless 
upon  the  petition  of  the  owners  of  three-fifths  of  the  property 
to  be  taken  or  upon  condition  that  the  City  shall  pay  all  the 
damages  assessed  therein. 

Sec.  11.  In  establishing,  opening  and  widening  boulevards 
and  converting  streets  into  boulevards  or  parkways,  compensa- 
tion shall  be  allowed  to  owners  of  property  abutting  thereon  for 
damages  occasioned  by  any  limitation  that  may  be  put  upon  the 
owner's  use  of  such  property;  and  the  City  may  regulate  by 
ordinance  the  character  of  trailfic  and  vehicles  that  shall  be  per- 
mitted on  boulevards  or  parkways,  prohibit  the  erection  of  any 
structure  on  property  abutting  on  a  boulevard  or  parkway  out- 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 57 

side  a  specified  building  line,  and  forbid  tbe  use  of  any  prop- 
erty so  abutting  for  all  or  any  business  purposes.  An  ordinance 
establishing  a  boulevaid  or  parkway  may  be  repealed,  upon 
recommendation  of  the  Roard  of  Public  Service,  and  thereupon 
the  boulevard  or  parkway  shall  become  a  street,  which,  together 
with  the  property  abutting  thereon,  shall  be  free  from  all  restric- 
tions imposed  by  the  repealed  ordinance.  Damages  and  bene- 
fits resulting  from  such  repeal  after  the  boulevard  or  parkway 
has  been  opened  shall  be  ascertained  and  paid  as  herein  provided 
for  establishing  boulevards  or  parkways. 

Sec.  12.  When  the  City  takes  or  damages  private  property 
for  a  public  use  other  than  those  enumerated  in  Section  4  of 
this  Article,  all  damages  shall  be  ascertained  as  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided and  shall  be  paid  by  the  City. 

Sec.  13.  The  vacation  of  highways,  streets,  boulevards, 
parkways,  and  alleys  shall  be  provided  for  by  ordinance  recom- 
mended by  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  and  easements  and 
rights  therein  shall  be  condemned  and  the  special  damage  and 
benefits  caused  thereby  shall  be  ascertained  and  assessed,  in  the 
manner,  by  the  proceedings  and  according  to  the  rules  herein- 
before prescribed  as  to  other  appropriating  or  damaging;  pro- 
vided, that  benefits  sufficient  to  pay  all  damages  shall  be  assessed 
against  the  lots  or  parcels  of  land  abutting  the  highway,  street, 
boulevard,   parkway  or  alley  to  be  vacated. 

Sec.  14.  Nothing  herein  shall  limit  the  power  of  tbe  City, 
by  ordinance,  recommended  by  the  P.oard  of  Public  Service, 
to  acquire  property  by  private  purchase,  or  to-  \acate  any  high- 
way, street,  boulevard,  parkway  or  alley  without  proceeding  here- 
under when  the  owners  of  all  property  specially  damaged  peti- 
tion therefor  and  waive  all  damages. 

Sec.  15.  Ordinances  for  approi)riating  or  damaging  property 
for  markets,  public  squares,  public  parks,  and  other  like  public 
uses  and  improvements  may  provide  for  payment  of  the  special 
assessments  made  on  lahds  specially  benefited  by  such  uses  and 
improvements  in  one  installment  or  in  equal  annual  installments 
not  to  exceed  seven  in  number,  in  which  event  the  judgments  shall 
so  recite;  such  judgments  shall  bear  interest  payable  annually 
at  the  rate  of  six  per  centum  per  annum  on  any  unj)aid  part 
thereof  from  entry  until  paid,  but  any  part  thereof  not  paid  when 


58  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

due  shall  thereafter  hear  interest  at  the  rate  of  eight  per  centum 
per  anntun  ;  and  for  the  purpose  of  anticipating  the  collection 
of  such  judg'ments  the  City  may  issue  and  sell  local  improvement 
bonds,  following  the  procedure,  as  far  as  the  same  is  applicable, 
provided  in  Article  XXTV  for  bonds  issued  in  anticipation  of  the 
collection  of  special  assessments  to  pay  for  local  improvements ; 
provided,  that  the  City  shall  not  be  liable  to  pay  bonds  herein 
provided  for,  but  the  same  shall  be  payable  solely  out  of  the 
collections  of  the  particular  judgments. 

Sec.  16.  Whenever  it  may  lavvfull}-  be  done,  the  Board  of 
.A.ldermen,  in  the  ordinance  providing  for  the  appropriation  of 
private  property  or  any  easement  or  use  therein  for  any  high- 
way, street,  boulevard,  parkway,  park,  wharf,  bridge,  viaduct, 
subway,  tunnel  or  sewer,  or  providing  for  any  public  work  or 
improvement  which  will  damage  or  benefit  private  property,  may 
provide  for  the  appropriation  in  fee  by  the  city  of  private  prop- 
erty or  any  easement  or  use  therein  in  excess  of  that  actually 
required  for  such  specific  purpose,  and  in  the  same  or  a  different 
ordinance  may  authorize  the  sale  of  such  excess  for  value  with 
or  without  restrictions. 

Such  excess  shall  be  condemned  and  compensation  therefor 
ascertained  amd  rendered  in  the  same  proceeding,  and  in  the  same 
manner  as  near  as  may  be,  as  the  property,  easement  or  use 
actually  needed  as  aforesaid  ;  provided,  that  the  value  of  such 
excess  shall  be  pai?l  for  by  the  City. 

ARTICLE   XXII. 
Public  Work. 

Section  1.  No  ordinance  for  public  w^ork  or  improvements  oi 
any  kind,  or  repairs  thereof,  shall  be  adopted,  unless  prepared 
and  recommended  by  the  Board  of  Public  Service  with  an 
estimate  of  the  cost  endorsed  thereon. 

Sec.  2.  Such  ordinances  shall  authorize  the  particular  work 
or  improvement ;  specify  the  general  character  and  extent  there- 
of, the  material  to  be  used  therein  and  in  the  alternative  if 
desirable;  the  manner  and  regulations  under  which  it  shall  be 
executed;  the  term  for  which  it  shall  be  guaranteed,  if  at  all; 
the  fund  or  source  from  which  payment  shall  be  made ;  that  it 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  59 

shall  be  done  in  accordance  with  detailed  plans  and  specifications 
finally  adopted  and  approved  by  the  Board  of  Public  Service 
before  bids  are  advertised  therefor;  and  shall  contain  a  specific 
appropriation  of  an  amount  sufficient  to  pay  the  City's  part  of 
the  estimated  cost;  provided  that  emergency  work  and  re- 
pairs requiring  prompt  attention  may  be  done  under  super- 
vision of  the  Board  of  Public  Service  as  provided  by  general 
ordinance. 

Ordinances  may  provide  for  a  greater  work  or  improvement 
than  can  be  paid  for  nt  the  time  out  of  an  available  fund  in  the 
City  Treasury,  in  which  event  they  shall  provide  that  the  work 
be  let  and  done  in  parts  as  appropriations  are  made  therefor. 

Sec.  3.  Before  the  Board  of  Public  Service  shall  recommend 
an  ordinance  for  any  public  w^ork  or  improvement,  including  the 
construction  or  other  improvement  of  any  public  highway,  street, 
boulevard,  parkway,  alley,  sidewalk,  or  sewer,  or  any  part  there- 
of, to  be  paid  for  by  special  assessments,  the  Board  of  Aldermen, 
on  recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  shall  estab- 
lish a  benefit  or  taxing  district,  and  as  to  a  sewer  shall  establish 
or  shall  have  established  a  sewer  district  or  joint-sewer  district, 
against  the  property  in  which  it  is  proposed  to  assess  benefits 
for  the  payment  in  whole  or  in  part  of  the  cost  and  expense  of 
such  work  or  improvement ;  and  the  Board  of  Public  Service  shall 
thereupon  designate  a  day  on  which  it  will  consider  the  projected 
work  or  improvement  and  shall  give  two  weeks'  public  notice  in 
the  paper  or  papers  doing  the  City  publi>hing.  of  the  time,  place 
and  matter  to  be  considered,  and  of  the  estimated  cost  of  the  work 
or  improvement,  which  estimate  may  cover  several  classes  of  ma- 
terial. 

Within  three  days  after  such  hearing  is  concluded,  the  Board 
shall  file  in  its  office  its  decision,  stating  the  class  or  classes  of 
material  and  the  work  or  improvement  determined  upon,  if  any. 
If  within  eighteen  days  after  such  decision  the  owners  of  the 
greater  area  of  the  latid  in  such  district  shall  file  in  the  office  of 
the  Board  of  Public  Service  their  written  remonstrance  against 
the  proposed  work  f>r  improvement,  the  Board,  at  its  next  meet- 
ing, shall  reconsider  and  either  reverse  its  action  or  transmit  to 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  the  ordinance  authorizing  the  proposed 
work  or  improvement,  together  with  said   remonstrance. 


60  CiiAR'jivR  oi'"  THE  City  of  St.  Louis 

Sec.  4.  All  ])ul)lic  \vf)rk,  except  emergency  work  or  repairs 
reqiiirinj^  prompt  attention,  shall  be  let  by  the  Board  of  Public 
vServicc  in  pursuance  of  the  ordinance  authorizing  the  same.  It 
shall  advertise  for  bids  in  the  paper  or  papers  doing  the  City 
publishing,  three  times,  the  last  publication  to  be  at  least  ten  days 
before  the  day  appointed  for  opening  the  bids  (unless  a  different 
time  and  medium  of  advertising  are  prescribed  in  the  ordinance), 
stating  the  general  nature  of  the  work  and  the  time  and  place 
of  receiving  bids  therefor.  Bids  submitted  shall  be  sealed  and 
accompanied  by  a  cashier's  or  treasurer's  check  of  a  bank  or  trust 
company  in  the  City,  payable  to  the  City  Treasurer  in  the  amount 
of  the  deposit  required.  Said  Board  shall  let  the  work  by  con- 
tract to  the  lowest  responsible  bidder  on  the  plans  and  speci- 
fications finally  adopted,  except  as  herein  otherwise  provided, 
first  requiring  a  bond  to  be  approved  by  it  and  the  Comptroller. 
Said  Board  may  reject  any  or  all  bids  submitted  and  readvertise 
the  work.  Provided,  that  any  ordinance  for  any  public  work  or 
improvement  to  be  paid  for  by  special  assessment  or  otherwise 
may  authorize  the  Board  of  Public  Service  to  do  the  same  in  a 
manner  prescribed  in  such  ordinance  without  letting  a  con- 
tract therefor. 

Sec.  5.  All  contracts  shall  recite  that  they  are  subject  to 
the  Charter  and  that  payments  thereon  of  the  City's  portion 
shall  be  limited  to  the  amount  of  the  particular  appropriation. 

Sec.  6.  All  contracts  for  the  construction  of  sewers  shall 
provide  that  owners  of  property,  with  approval  of  the  Direc- 
tor of  Streets  and  Sewers,  may  make  a  connection  during  con- 
struction with  the  sewer  or  any  temporary  drain  made  by  the 
contractor,  payment  to  be  made  to  him  for  such  connection 
equal  to  the  extra  cost  caused  to  him  thereby. 

Sec.  7.  The  Board  of  Public  Service  shall  investigate  writ- 
ten complaints  that  any  public  work  or  improvement  is  not 
being  done  according  to  contract  and  if  well  founded  the 
Board  shall  immediately  require  the  contractor  to  comply  with 
the  contract  and  pay  the  costs  of  such  investigation. 

Sec.  8.  The  Board  of  Public  Service  may  let  contracts  for 
ihe  grading  and  for  the  improvement  of  any  public  highway, 
street,  boulevard,  parkway,  alley  or  sidewalk  or  portions 
thereof,  separately,  in  which  event  the  City  may  either  im- 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 61 

pose  one  special  assessment  to  pay  for  the  grading  and 
another  to  pay  for  tlie  improvement,  or  it  may  pay  the  cost  of 
the  grading  and  add  the  same  to  the  cost  of  such  improvement 
and  include  the  cost  of  both  the  grading  and  improvement  in 
one  special  assessment,  the  contractor  reimbursing  the  City 
for  the  grading. 

Sec.  9.  If  any  property  in  a  benefit  or  assessment  district 
other  than  public  highways,  is  not  liable  to  any  special  assess- 
ment herein  provided  for,  the  City  shall  pay  the  part  of  the 
cost  of  the  work  or  improvement  which  would  otherwise 
have  been  assessed  against  such  property. 

Sec.  10.  Ordinances  for  grading,  regrading,  preparing  road- 
bed, placing  foundation,  building  of  superstructure,  including 
curb,  gutters,  roadway,  paving  and  cross-walks,  and  intersec- 
tions of  public  highways  streets,  boulevards  and  parkways, 
or  for  reconstruction  of  any  such  work,  shall  provide  for 
payment  therefor  bv  special  assessment,  as  follows :  one- 
third  of  the  entire  cost  shall  be  levied  and  assessed  against  the 
lots  or  parcels  of  ground  abutting  on  the  work  or  improvement 
ratably  by  lineal  feet  so  abutting,  and  the  remainder  of  the  cost 
shall  be  levied  and  assessed  ratably  by  area  against  all  the  lof; 
or  parcels  of  ground  within  the  benefit  or  taxing  district,  ex- 
clusive of  public  highways.  The  improvement  of  thirty  feet 
of  any  wharf  farthest  from  the  stream  may  be  paid  for  in  like 
manner  or  at  the  City's  expense. 

Sec.  11.  Ordinances  for  grading,  regrading,  preparing  road- 
bed, ])lacing  foundations,  and  building  of  superstructure  of  all 
alleys,  and  all  reconstruction  and  repairs  thereof,  including  in- 
tersections of  alleys  and  the  crossing  of  sidewalks  in  the  con- 
tinuation of  alleys,  shall  provide  for  payment  therefor  by 
special  assessment  as  follows:  one-third  of  the  entire  cost  shall 
be  levied  and  assessed  against  the  lots  or  parcels  of  ground 
abutting  on  the  work  or  improvement  ratably  by  lineal  feet  so 
abutting,  and  the  remainder  of  the  cost  shall  be  levied  and  as- 
sessed ratably  by  area  against  all  the  lots  or  parcels  of  ground 
abutting  such  alleys  or  having  access  thereto. 

Sec.  12.  Ordinances  for  the  grading  and  preparing  for  and 
placing  the  superstructure,  of  sidewalks,  or  for  the  regrading 
and  reconstruction  thereof,  with  necessary  intersections,  shall 


62  Charter  of  Ti-ig  City  of  St.  Louis 

provide  for  payment  tlierefor  l)y  special  assessment  levied  and 
assessed  against  the  property  abutting  thereon;  provided  that 
ordinances  for  grading  or  regrading  of  streets  and  boulevards 
may  include  as  a  part  thereof  the  grading  and  regrading  of 
the  sidewalks  thereon. 

Sec.  13.  At  least  one-fourth  of  the  cost  of  reconstruction  of 
any  public  highway,  street,  boulevard,  parkway,  sidewalk  or 
alley  done  within  ten  years  after  the  same  has  been  fully  paved 
shall  be  paid  by  the  City. 

Sec.  14.  There  shall  be  four  classes  of  sewers,  viz:  Public, 
District,  Joint-District  and  Private  Sewers,  as  hereinafter  de- 
fined, but  otherwise  without  regard  to  the  area  drained,  the 
size,  character  or  purpose  of  the  sewer. 

Public  sewers  are  those  which  have  been  or  may  be  con- 
structed or  acquired  and  paid  for  wholly  out  of  general  reve- 
nue. 

District  Sewers  are  those  which  have  been  or  may  be  con- 
structed or  acquired,  under  authority  of  ordinance,  within 
the  limits  of  an  established  sewer  district,  and  paid  for  by 
special  assessments  upon  the  property  in  the   district. 

Joint-District  Sewers  are  those  which  have  been  or  may 
be  constructed  or  acquired  under  the  authority  of  ordinances 
uniting  one  or  more  districts  and  unorganized  territory,  or 
uniting  districts  or  unorganized  territory,  into  a  joint  sewer 
district,  for  the  purpose  of  providing  main,  outlet,  or  inter- 
cepting sewers,  for  the  benefit  of  such  joint  sewer  district, 
and  paid  for  by  special  assessment  upon  the  property  in  such 
joint  sewer  district. 

Private  Sewers  are  those  paid  for  by  private  parties  con- 
structing the  same. 

Sec.  15.  All  public,  district  and  joint-district  sewers  shall 
be  constructed  along  streets,  alleys  and  other  public  ways 
whenever  practicable;  and  no  such  sewer  shall  be  built  or 
acquired  by  the  City  except  it  be  on  a  public  way  or  a  right- 
of-way  owned  by  the  City.  Such  sewers  may  be  connected 
with  any  other  sewer  of  any  class  or  with  a  natural  course  of 
drainage. 

Sec.  16.  All  ordinances  for  constructing,  reconstructing  or 
acquiring  district  and  joint-district  sewers  shall  provide  for 
payment   thereof   by   special   assessment   as    follows:      the   en- 


___^ Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 63 

tire  cost  and  expense  shall  he  levied  and  assessed  as  a  special 
tax  ratahly  hy  area  on  all  the  lots  or  parcels  of  ground  with- 
in the  district  or  joint  district,  excluding  jmblic  highways 
only. 

Ordinances  creating  a  joint-sewer  district  may  provide  for 
the  construction  of  the  sewer  or  sewers  therein  in  one  or 
more  sections  and  for  the  levy  and  assessment  of  the  cost  of 
any  section  upon  the  completion  thereof  as  a  special  tax  in 
the  manner  herein  provided. 

If  any  district  or  joint-district  sewer  shall  drain  territory 
lying  outside  the  City  limits  an<l  not  included  in  the 
district  or  joint  district,  the  City  shall  pay  so  much  of  the 
cost  of  such  sewer  as  would  have  heen  assessed  ratably 
against  such  territory,  if  it  were  included  in  the  district  or 
joint  district. 

Sec.  17.  The  City  may  hy  ordinance  recDUimended  hy  the 
Roard  of  Pulilic  Service  acquire  any  private  sewer  hy  gift,  con- 
demnation or  purchase  and  i)ro\idc  for  reinihursement  by 
special  assessment  in  the  manner  hercinl)efore  provided  to  he 
levied  against  the  property  in  the  district  or  juint-district  for 
whicli  such  private  sewer  is  acquired;  and  an  ordinance  mak- 
ing a  private  sewer  or  any  part  thereof  a  part  of  a  pmposed 
district  or  joint-district  sewer  may  provide  that  the  contractor 
shall  pay  for  sucli  private  sewer  at  the  price  fixed  in  such 
ordinance  and  the  cost  thereof  shall  he  included  in  the  total 
cost  of  constructing  such  district  or  joint-district  sewer. 

Sec.  18.  When  any  puldic  work  or  iiuprovement,  to  he  jiaid 
for  in  whole  or  in  part  by  special  assessment,  is  completed, 
the  Board  of  Public  Service  shall  cause  the  entire  cost  and 
expense  thereof  to  be  computed,  and  shall  levy  and  assess 
such  cost  and  expense  or  the  part  to  be  paid  by  special  as- 
sessment, as  a  special  tax,  in  accordance  with  the  require- 
ments of  this  article,  and  shall  cause  to  be  issued  a  special  tax 
bill  against  each  lot  or  parcel  of  ground  liable  in  the  manner 
provided  by  Article  XXIII,  or  by  ordinance  not  inconsistent 
therewith. 

Sec.  19.  Should  it  be  necessary  for  any  reason  to  recon- 
struct any  district  or  joint-district  sewer,  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men, by  ordinance  recommended  by  the  Board  of  Public  Serv- 


64  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

ice,  may  estal)lish  the  same  or  a  different  district  for  sucli 
reconstruction.  It  may  also  alter  any  district  or  joint  district 
at  any  time  before  the  construction  of  the  sewers  therein  is 
completed. 

Sec.  20.  Private  sewers  shall  be  constructed,  repaired  and 
maintained  and  connected  with  other  sewers  at  private  ex- 
pense under  such  restrictions  and  regulations  as  the  Board 
of  Public  Service  may  prescribe,  the  City  reserving  the  right 
to  connect  with,  utilize  and  acquire  such  sewers 

Sec.  21.  The  Board  of  Public  Service  may  grant  permits 
for  the  improvement  of  public  highways,  streets,  boulevards, 
parkways,  alleys  and  sidewalks  by  property  owners,  but  such 
improvement  shall  conform  to  the  established  or  proposed 
grades  and  to  specifications  appro\'ed  by  the  Board. 

Sec.  22.  If  any  part  of  the  work  or  material  put  into  the 
improvement  of  a  public  highway,  street,  boulevard,  park- 
way, alley  or  sidewalk  can  be  utilized  by  the  City  in  its  im- 
provement thereof,  the  Board  of  Public  Service  shall  de- 
termine the  amount  that  shall  be  credited  to  the  owner  of 
the  abutting  property  for  such  work  or  material  and  adjust 
it  in  issuing  special  tax  bills. 

Sec.  23.  The  ordinance  for  any  public  work  or  improve- 
ment may  require  the  Board  of  Public  Ser\ice  to  levy  the  spe- 
cial assessment  therefor  immediately  upon  such  ordinance' 
becoming  effective,  such  assessment  to  be  based  on  ^-he  esti- 
mated cost  and  expenses  of  such  work  or  improvement ;  and 
should  any  assessment  so  levied  be  insufficient  to  pay  the 
entire  cost  and  expenses  of  the  work  or  improvement  re- 
quired to  be  paid  for  by  special  assessment,  the  Board  of  Pub- 
lic Service  shall,  on  the  completion  of  the  work  or  improve- 
ment, levy  a  supplemental  special  assessment  to  pay  the  de- 
ficiency, in  the  same  manner  as  nearly  as  may  be  as  in  the 
first  special  assessment ;  and  should  the  whole  of  the  original 
special  assessment  not  be  required  to  pay  the  cost  and  ex- 
penses of  the  work  or  improvement,  the  excess  shall  be  cred- 
ited ratably  on  the  special  tax  bills  or  refunded  to  the  par-^ 
ties  who  paid  them. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  65 

ARTICLE  XXin. 
Special  Tax  Bills. 

Section  1.  For  all  special  assessments  for  public  work  or 
improvements  under  this  Charter  and  ordinances  adopted  in 
pursuance  thereof,  special  tax  bills  shall  be  prepared  and 
signed  by  a  person  designated  by  the  Board  of  Public  Serv- 
ice by  resolution  entered  on  its  records ;  and  shall  be  made 
payable  to  the  parties  entitled,  either  at  the  Collector's  office 
or  at  some  bank  or  trust  company  in  the  City,  at  the  option 
of  the  party  so  entitled.  They  shall  be  promptly  registered 
and  certified  both  in  the  office  of  said  Board  and  of  the 
Comptroller  by  persons  designated  by  said  Board  and  by  tlie 
Comptroller  respectively  to  make  such  registration  and  cer- 
tificate, and  then  delivered  by  the  Comptroller  to  the  parties 
entitled  and  their  receipts  taken  therefor;  and  the  City  shall 
not  be  liable  in  any  manner  for  any  work  or  imprcn'ement  to 
be  paid  for  in  special  tax  bills. 

Sec.  2.  Any  special  tax  bills  may  be  divided,  if  the  ordi- 
nance authorizing  the  particular  work  or  improvement  so 
provides,  into  any  number  of  equal  annual  installments,  not 
to  exceed  ten,  whereof  the  first  shall  be  due  upon  service  of 
the  notice  hereinafter  provided  for  or  upon  a  ''not  found"  re- 
turn by  the  Marshal  as  hereinafter  mentioned,  and  the  other 
installments  successively  on  the  corresponding  day  of  each 
subsequent  year,  with  interest  payable  annually  on  each  install- 
ment at  the  rate  of  six  per  centum  per  annum  from  such  no- 
tice or  "not  found"  return  until  maturity  or  prior  payment 
and  at  the  rate  of  eight  per  centum  per  annum  after  maturity. 

All  such  special  tax  bills  not  payable  in  installments  shall 
mature  upon  notice  or  "not  found"  return  as  aforesaid  and 
draw  interest  at  the  rate  of  eight  per  centum  per  annum  after 
maturity;  provided,  that  the  entire  bill  or  any  number  of  in- 
stallments may  be  paid  within  thirty  days  after  ^ucb  notice 
or  "not  found"  return  without  any  interest. 

Sec.  3.  The  owner  of  any  special  tax  bill  shall  serve  a  writ- 
ten notice  of  the  issuance  thereof  on  the  parties  named  therein, 
or  the  City  Marshal  at  such  owners'  request  shall  serve  such 
notice  and  make  return  of  such  service  in  the  manner  pro- 
vided  as  to  writs  of  summons  in  civil  causes  ;  and  he  shall 


66 CiiAUTER  OF  Tiiic  City  of  St.  Louis 

receive  therefor  the  fees  then  allowed  for  serving  such  writs. 
Such  Marshal's  return  shall  be  conclusive  of  the  facts  therein 
stated,  and  any  person  injured  by  a  false  return  on  any  such 
notice  shall  have  his  right  of  action  for  damages  resulting 
therefrom  against  the  Marshal  on  his  official  bond. 

Sec.  4.  All  special  tax  bills  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  of 
what  they  contain  and  of  their  own  validity,  and  no  mere  in- 
formality or  clerical  mistake  in  any  of  the  proceedings  lead- 
ing to  the  issuance  of  or  in  any  special  tax  bill  shall  be  a 
defense  thereto;  provided,  that  if  the  work  was  not  done  in  a 
good  and  workmanlike  manner  according  to  the  class  of  work 
mentioned  in  the  contract  the  property  charged  with  the  pay- 
ment of  said  bill  shall  be  liable  only  for  the  value  of  such 
work  done,  and  the  recovery  on  the  special  tax  bill  shall  be 
reduced  accordingly. 

Sec.  5.  All  special  tax  bills  shall  be  a  first  lien  on  the  prop- 
erty charged  therewith  from  the  day  of  issuance  thereof;  pro- 
vided, there  shall  be  no  priority  between  special  tax  bills  issued 
under  this  Charter,  regardless  of  the  date  of  such  bills.  The 
entire  bill  or  any  installment  thereof,  together  with  interest, 
may  be  collected  by  action  in  any  court  of  competent  juris- 
diction ;  and  such  action  may  be  brought  by  attachment  when 
the  owner  of  the  land  affected  is  a  non-resident  of  the  State 
or  after  a  "not  found"  return  is  made  by  the  City  Marshal 
on  any  such  notice,  in  either  which  event  the  suit  shall  be 
equivalent  to  notice  and  a  demand  of  payment. 

Sec.  6.  If  any  installment  of  any  special  tax  bill  or  any  in- 
terest thereon  be  not  paid  when  due,  then  all  remaining  install- 
ments, together  with  interest  thereon  as  aforesaid,  shall,  at 
the  option  of  the  holder  if  exercised  by  suit  thereon,  imme- 
diately become  due;  and  a  judgment  on  such  bill  shall  bear 
interest  at  the  rate  of  eight  per  centum  per  annum. 

Sec.  7.  Special  tax  bills  and  the  lien  thereof  may  be  assigned 
and  the  place  of  payment  thereof  changed  to  the  office  of  the 
Collector  or  to  any  bank  or  trust  company  in  the  City.  But 
any  such  assignment  or  change  of  place  of  payment  to  be 
valid  must  be  in  writing,  countersigned  by  the  Comptroller 
or  by  one  of  his  deputies,  acknowledged  before  an  officer  au- 
thorized to  take  acknowledgments,  and  registered  in  the  of- 
fice of  the  Comptroller. 


Charter  or  the  City  of  St.  Louis  67 

Sec.  8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Collector  to  receive  pay- 
ment of  all  special  tax  bills  made  jiayable  at  his  office  ami 
thereupon  deliver  the  same  receipted;  and  he  shall,  upon  war- 
rants of  the  Comptroller,  pay  over  all  such  collections  to  the 
parties  entitled.  The  persons  payings  any  such  bill  shall  l)e  en- 
titled to  have  the  same  satisfied  on  the  register  in  the  Comp- 
troller's oflfice,  in  whole  or  in  part,  as  the  case  may  be.  imme- 
diately on  presentation  to  the  Com]itrollcr  of  eitlier  the  re- 
ceipted tax  bill  or  a  receipt  from  the  Collector  or  the  proper 
bank  or  trust  company  showing  such  payment  thereof;  and 
the  Hen  of  any  bill  shall  cease  and  be  of  no  effect  against  the 
land  charged  therewith  at  the  end  of  two  years  after  the  ma- 
turity of  the  1")ill  or  the  last  installment  thereof,  unless  proceed- 
ings at  law  shall  then  be  pending  to  collect  the  same,  and  writ- 
ten notice  of  the  institution  thereof  setting  forth  when  and  in 
what  court  such  proceedings  were  brought  shall  have  been 
filed  in  the  office  of  the  Comptroller  within  ten  days  after  the 
institution   of  such   suit. 

Sec.  9.  If  any  ordinance  authorizing  a  piil^lic  work  or  im- 
provement, or  fixing  a  benefit  or  taxing  district,  shall  be  ir- 
regular, defective  or  invalid  by  reason  of  any  omission,  error 
or  irregularity  therein  or  in  the  proceedings  leading  to  its  adop- 
tion, or  if  for  any  reason  it  shall  be  necessary  to  the  validity 
of  any  special  assessment,  the  Board  of  Aldermen  may,  on 
recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  adopt  an 
ordinance  ratifying  all  things  done  under  or  in  pursuance  of 
the  original  ordinance,  and  suiijilying.  correcting  anfl  curing 
all  such  omissions,  errors,  defects  and  irregularities,  and  mak- 
ing such  special  assessment  valid. 

Sec.  10.  Where  public  work  or  improvement  has  been  done 
under  an  ordinance  providing  that  it  should  be  paid  for  by 
special  assessment  and  the  whole  or  part  of  such  special  as- 
sessment has  been  adjudged  invalid  for  any  reason  other  than 
the  failure  of  the  contractor  to  perform  his  contract,  the  P.oarrl 
of  Public  Service  shall  levy  a  new  assessment  and  evidence 
the  same  by  tax  bills  in  the  same  manner  and  with  like  effect 
as  if  validly  done  hereunder  in  the  first  instance. 

Sec.  11.  Special  assessments  or  tax  bills  evidencing  the 
same  may  be  amended  by  the  officer  or  officers  authorized  at 
the  time  to  prepare  special  tax  bills  or  by  the  courts  in  proceed- 


68  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 


injTs  to  enforce  the  same,  to  correct  or  supply  descriptions, 
names  and  other  errors,  omissions  and  irregularities  on  the 
]iart  of  the  city,  and  may  he  divided  by  said  officer  or  officers 
at  the  request  of  any  of  the  parties  concerned  according  to  divi- 
sions of  the  property  made  subsequent  to  the  bills  being  pre- 
pared, and  without  afifecting  the  interest  on  such  amended  or 
divided   bill. 

Sec.  12.  The  City  by  ordinance  recommended  l)y  the  Board 
of  Public  Service  may,  from  time  to  time,  make  further  pro- 
vision by  ordinance,  not  inconsistent  with  this  Charter,  for 
special  assessments,  the  issuance  of  special  tax  bills  therefor, 
the  collection  thereof,  and  all  matters  incidental  thereto. 

ARTICLE  XXIV. 
Improvement  Bonds  and  Funds. 

Section  1.  The  Board  of  Aldermen,  by  ordinance  recom- 
mended by  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  in  anticipation  of  the 
collection  of  a  special  assessment  for  any  public  work  or  im- 
provement, may  provide  for  the  issuance  of  improvement 
bonds  to  be  delivered  to  the  contractor  in  payment  for  so 
much  of  the  work  or  improvement  as  is  payable  by  such 
special  assessment,  or  to  be  sold  by  the  Cii}'  and  the  pro- 
ceeds paid  to  the  contractor  in  full  for  such  work  and  improve- 
ment; provided,  the  City  shall  not  be  liable  either  to  pay  such 
bonds  or  to  pay  for  such  part  of  the  work  or  improvement. 
l)ut  the  bonds  shall  be  paid  only  out  of  the  particular  special 
assessment  in  anticipation  of  which  they  were  issued,  and  no 
such  issue  shall  be  in  excess  of  the  cost  and  expenses  or  esti- 
mated cost  and  expenses  of  the  work  and  improvement  and 
the  interest  on  the  bonds,  which  may  be  treated  as  a  part  of 
such  cost,  and  all  proceeds  of  said  bonds  shall  be  applied  in 
payment  of  the  cost  and  expenses  of  such  work  and  improve- 
ment. 

If  the  special  assessment  in  anticipation  of  which  such 
I)onds  are  issued  shall  be  payable  in  equal  annual  installments 
the  particular  bonds  shall  be  payable  serially,  each  series 
maturing  with  approximate  regard  to  the  several  maturities 
of  such  installments ;  and  all  such  special  assessments  shall 
be  collected  promptly  by  the  City  at  its  expense  and  applied. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 69 

whenever  sufficient  lliereto  after  paying  accrued  interest  on 
all  such  issue  nf  bonds,  tfi  the  redemption  of  one  or  more  of 
such  bonds  in  numerical  <>rder  at  maturity. 

The  form  and  denomination  of  such  bonds ;  the  date  of 
maturity  or  maturities  thereof  not  to  exceed  eleven  years  in 
any  instance;  the  rate  of  interest  thereon  and  date  and  place 
of  its  payment;  the  price  at  which  they  shall  be  sold,  if  to  be 
sold;  by  what  officers  and  in  what  manner  they  shall  be  exe- 
cuted and  attested ;  and  the  place  and  method  of  payment, 
save  only  the  fund  out  of  which  payment  shall  be  made,  to- 
t^ether  with  other  provisions  and  regulations  concerning  such 
bonds  and  not  inconsistent  herewith,  shall  be  prescribed  by  the 
ordinance  authorizing  the  particular  issue. 

Sec.  2.  The  Board  of  Aldermen,  by  ordinance  recom- 
mended by  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  may  appropriate  out 
of  the  general  revenue  sufficient  money  to  pay,  or  to  provide 
a  fund  in  advance  to  pay,  such  part  of  any  improvement  bond 
issue  as  the  proceeds  of  special  assessments  securing  same  may 
prove  insufficient  to  pay  as  they  become  due,  not  exceeding 
ten  per  centum  of  the  amount  of  such  bond  issue,  and  provide 
for  reimbursement,  if  possible,  out  of  the  proceeds  of  such 
special  assessments  after  all  such  bonds  and  interest  have 
l.een  fully  paid. 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  may,  by  ordinance  recom- 
mended by  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  provide  for  the  crea- 
tion of  a  local  improvement  fund  out  of  which  the  City  shall 
pay  in  cash,  to  contractors  or  otherwise,  the  cost  and  expense 
of  local  improvements,  and  for  the  levy,  assessment  and  col- 
lection of  special  assessments  to  cover  such  costs  and  ex- 
])enses,  the  proceeds  of  which  assessments  shall  be  paid  into 
such  fund  or  funds. 

Sec.  4.  For  the  purpose  of  anticipating  the  levy  and  col- 
lection of  any  special  assessment  for  any  public  work  or  im- 
provement, the  Board  of  Aldermen  may,  by  ordinance  recom- 
mended by  the  Board  of  Public  Service,  appropriate  a  fund 
to  pay  for  the  work  or  improvement  as  it  progresses,  and  re- 
imburse the  City  either  by  the.  issue  and  sale  of  local  im- 
provement bonds  as  in  this  Article  provided,  or  by  the  collec- 
tion of  such  special  assessments. 


70 Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

Sec.  5.  All  special  assessments  contemplated  by  this  Ar- 
ticle shall  be  evidenced  by  special  tax  bills  in  accordance  with 
the  provisions  of  Article  XXIII,  so  far  as  applicable,  such 
bills  to  be  made  payable  to  the  City,  which  shall  be  deemed 
the  owner  thereof,  at  the  office  of  the  Collector,  to  whom  the 
Comptroller  shall  deliver  the  same  and  take  his  receipts 
therefor.  The  .Marshal  shall  serve  the  notice  of  the  issuance 
of  such  bills  and  make  return  of  such  service  without  re- 
ceiving- any  fees  therefor. 

ARTICLE  XXV. 
General  and  Miscellaneous. 

Section  1,  The  Board  of  Aldermen  may  by  ordinance 
adopted  by  vote  of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members,  on  the 
recommendation  of  the  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportion- 
ment, discontinue  any  division  established  by  this  Charter, 
create  new  or  additional  divisions,  and  determine,  combine 
and  distribute  the  functions  and  duties  of  divisions,  officers 
and  employes. 

Sec.  2.  The  raw  material  and  finished  products  of  manu- 
facturers in  the  City,  as  well  as  all  the  tools,  machinery  and 
appliances  used  by  them  and  the  stock  in  trade  and  appliances 
of  merchants  in  the  City,  may  be  taxed  as  a  separate  class 
under  the  laws  of  the  State  and  a  lower  rate  may  be  levied 
by  the  City  on  such  property  so  classified  than  on  real  estate 
and  other  property,  and  the  City  may  by  ordinance  levy  a 
tax  upon  the  sales  made  by  manufacturers  and  merchants  in 
the  City. 

Sec.  3.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  may  provide  by  ordinance 
for  assessing-  against  the  abutting  property  the  cost  of  plant- 
ing shade  trees  and  of  removing  from  sidewalks  accumula- 
tions of  snow,  ice  and  earth  and  for  assessing  against  prop- 
erty the  cost  of  cutting  and  removing  therefrom  noxious  weeds 
and  rubbish. 

Sec.  4.  Unless  otherwise  provided  in  this  Charter  all  bonds 
shall  be  approved  as  to  their  sufficiency  by  the  Comptroller. 
The  bond  of  the  Comptroller  as  to  its  sufficiency  shall  be  ap- 
proved by  the  Mayor.  All  official  bonds  shall,  among  other 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 71 

things,  be  conditioned  for  the  faithful  performance  of  the  duties 
of  the  office.  For  any  breach  of  the  condition  of  any  bond,  suit 
may  be  instituted  thereon  by  the  City,  or  by  any  person  or 
persons  in  the  name  of  the  City,  for  the  use  of  such  person 
or  persons. 

Sec.  5.  If  at  any  time  it  appears  to  the  Mayor  or  Comp- 
troller that  the  surety  or  sureties  on  any  official  bond  are  in- 
sufficient, he  shall  require  the  officer  or  employe  to  give  addi- 
tional bond  and  if  such  officer  or  employe  fails  to  give  such 
additional  bond  within  ten  days  after  he  shall  have  been  noti- 
fied, his  office  shall  be  vacant. 

Sec.  6.  A  contingent  fund  sliall  be  provided  l)y  ordinance 
for  the  Mayor,  to  be  used  by  him  at  his  discretion,  and  at  the 
end  of  his  term  he  shall  make  a  report  in  general  terms  to 
the  Board  of  Aldermen  of  the  disposition  thereof. 

Sec.  7.  Any  reference  in  this  Charter  to  tiie  Board  of 
Election  Commissioners  shall  be  taken  to  include  any  Board 
or  person  having  charge  of  elections  in  the  City. 

Sec.  8.  The  City  in  taking  an  appeal  in  any  judicial  pro- 
ceeding shall  give  bond  as  required  by  law,  but  need  not  fur- 
nish security  therefor. 

Sec.  9.  All  contracts  relating  to  City  affairs  shall  be  in 
writing,  signed  and  executed  in  the  name  of  the  City,  in 
cases  not  otherwise  provided  by  law  or  ordinance,  they  shall 
be  made  by  the  Comptroller,  and  in  no  case  by  the  Board  of 
Aldermen  or  any  committee  thereof.  Ci.intracts  not  made  by 
the  Com])lrollcr  shall  be  countersigned  l;y  him,  and  all  con- 
tracts shall  be  hied  and  registered  by  number,  date  and  con- 
tents with  the  Register. 

Sec.  10.  All  books,  records  and  papers  in  any  department, 
office,  or  division  shall  be  oi)en  to  the  Mayor,  Comptroller 
or  any  committee  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen. 

Sec.  11.  The  Mayor  may  appoint  any  number  of  civil 
engineers  as  City  Surveyors  for  a  term  of  four  years,  whose 
duties  and  powers  shall  be  as  provided  by  law  in  regard  to 
County  Surveyors.  Each  City  Surveyor  shall  when  appointed 
give  bond  to  the  City  for  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  conditioned 
for  the   faithful   perforniatice  of  hi'^  duties.     Such   bond   may 


72 Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

be  sued  upon  by  any  person  injured  by  the  official  acts  f>{  such 
surveyor. 

Sec.  12.  All  publications  not  otherwise  herein  pnwided 
for  shall  be  published  in  the  paper  or  papers  having  the  con- 
tract to  do  the  City  publishing  at  the  time. 

Sec.  13.  Any  board  or  officer  authorized  by  this  Charter 
to  subpoena  witnesses  and  order  the  production  of  books 
and  papers  shall  have  the  services  of  the  City  Marshal  to 
execute  process,  and  provision  shall  be  made  by  ordinance 
for  punishing  failure  to  obey  any  such  subpoena  or  order. 

Sec.  14.  Except  in  case  of  emergency  not  to  exceed  eight 
hours  shall  constitute  a  day's  work  for  all  mechanics  and 
laborers  employed  by  the  City,  and  not  less  than  the  prevail- 
ing rate  of  wages  shall  be  paid. 

Sec.  15.  Where  the  word  "office"  is  used  in  this  Charter  to 
indicate  a  branch  of  the  city  government,  it  shall  be  construed 
to  refer  to  any  branch  not  in  or  under  any  department,  and 
shall  include  the  office  of  the  IMayor,  Register,  Marshal,  City 
Court  Judges  and  Clerk  of  the  City  Courts. 

Sec.  16.  Unless  the  context  indicates  a  different  intent  and 
except  when  referring  to  a  person  holding  an  office  or  employ- 
ment under  the  City  the  words  "person"  or  "persons"  in  this 
Charter  will  be  construed  to  include  person,  firm,  corporation, 
company  or  association  and  the  plurals  thereof. 

Sec.  17.  The  Board  of  Aldermen  may  by  ordinance  make 
any  provision  necessary  to  carry  into  execution  the  laws  of 
the  State  relating  to  State,  school.  City  and  other  revenue ; 
and  any  power,  duty  or  trust  under  the  laws  of  the  State, 
vested  in  or  imposed  upon  any  body  or  officer  of  any  county 
or  of  this  city  by  the  laws  of  the  State  may  be  exercised  by 
such  body  or  officer  of  the  City  as  may  be  provided  by  ordi- 
nance consistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  Charter. 

SCHEDULE 

Section  1.  All  ordinances  or  parts  thereof  in  force  when 
this  Charter  takes  eflfect  and  not  inconsistent  therewith  shall 
continue  in  force  until  amended  or  repealed ;  and  all  rights, 
actions,    prosecutions   and    contracts   of   the   City,   or    for    its 


Charter  of  the  City  or  St.  Louis  72> 

benefit,  all  recogriizances,  bonds,  oblic^ations  and  instruments 
entered  into  or  executed  to  the  City,  all  fines,  taxes,  penalties 
and  forfeitures  due  or  owing  to  the  City,  and  all  writs,  i)rose- 
cutions,  actions  and  causes  of  action,  shall  be  valid  and  con- 
tinue  unaflFected  by  this  Charter  taking  effect. 

Sec.  2.  All  ordinances  authorizing  or  contemplating  the 
appropriation  or  damaging  of  private  property  for  public  use 
or  authorizing  public  work  or  improvements  in  force  when 
this  Charter  takes  eflfect,  and  all  things  done  thereunder,  shall 
remain  valid,  and  subsequent  proceedings  thereunder,  includ- 
ing those  in  pending  condemnation  proceedings,  shall  be  con- 
ducted as  nearly  as  practicable  in  accordance  with  the  provi- 
sions of  this  Charter. 

Sec.  3.  Any  assessment  for  taxation  commenced  before  this 
Charter  takes  effect  shall  be  availed  of  and  completed  by  the 
assessor  and  his  deputies  under  this  Charter,  and  the  same 
and  any  taxes  based  thereon  shall  be  valid  notwithstanding 
any  change  eflfected  by  this  Charter. 

Sec.  4.  Ordinances,  or  parts  there* »f,  not  inconsistent  with 
this  Charter,  referring  to  any  present  body,  board,  officer  or 
employe,  shall  be  construed  to  refer  to  the  body,  board,  officer 
or  employe  having  the  same  or  similar  powers  or  duties  under 
this  Charter  or  ordinances  consistent  therewith. 

Sec.  5.  Ordinances  authorizing  a  fine  or  punishment  greater 
than  is  permitted  by  this  Charter  shall  continue  valid  so  far  as 
to  authorize  a  fine  or  punishment  not  exceeding  the  limitations 
of  this  Charter. 

Sec.  6.  \\'henever  any  ai)i)roval,  order  or  action  l)v  any 
board  or  officer,  discontinued  l)y  this  Charter,  is  required  by 
any  law  or  present  ordinance  as  a  condition  precedent  to  any 
payment,  commitment  to  any  institution  or  other  action  by 
any  city  officer,  it  shall  ])e  sufficient  to  obtain  such  approval, 
order  or  action  from  the  body,  board  or  officer  having  tlie 
same  or  similar  power  in  the  premises  under  tliis  Charter, 
and  if  there  be  no  such  board  or  officer,  such  apprmal,  order 
or  action  may  be  secinc<l  fr<>m  the  mayor  until  otiiorwise  pro- 
vided bv  ordinance. 


74  Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis 


vSec.  7.  It  shall  he  the  duty  of  all  hoards,  commissions  and 
ofticers  whose  powers  or  duties  are  vested  in  others  hy  this 
Charter,  to  turn  over  all  hooks,  records,  pro])crty  and  funds 
to  such  others,  and  if  any  hoard,  commission  or  ofifice  be  abol- 
ished without  the  duties  thereof  being  vested  in  others  the 
incumbents  thereof  shall  turn  over  all  books,  records,  property 
and  funds  to  the  Comptroller. 

Sec.  8.  The  present  Municipal  Assembly,  with  its  present 
officers  or  such  as  the  respective  houses  may  lawfully  choose 
under  the  present  Charter,  shall  continue  until  the  first  .Mon- 
day in  April,  1915,  with  all  the  powders  and  duties  given  to  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  by  this  Charter,  and  subject  to  its  provi- 
sions ;  and  until  said  date  the  provisions  of  the  present  Char- 
ter with  regard  to  the  filling  of  vacancies  in  the  office  of  Mayor 
or  the  temporary  performance  of  the  duties  of  the  Mayor  shall 
remain  in  force. 

Sec.  9.  All  terms  of  office  of  present  officers  and  employes, 
except  those  terms  expressly  saved  or  continued  by  this  Char- 
ter, are  abolished. 

Sec.  10.  The  present  city  officers  mentioned  in  this  section 
shall  hold  office  under  this  Charter  and  subject  to  its  provi- 
sions, as  follows :  the  present  Mayor,  Comptroller  and  City 
Counselor  shall  hold  the  like  offices  ;  the  present  Police  Justices 
and  District  Assessors  shall  hold  office  as  City  Court  Judges 
and  Deputy  Assessors,  respectively;  the  present  Street,  Sewer, 
Water,  Park,  Health  and  Hospital  Commissioners,  Commis- 
sioner of  Supplies  and  Commissioner  of  Public  Buildings  and 
Chief  of  Fire  Department,  shall  hold  office,  respectively,  as 
heads  of  the  appropriate  divisions  created  by  this  Charter; 
the  present  President  of  the  Board  of  Assessors.  President  of 
the  Board  of  Public  Improvements  and  Inspector  of  Weights 
and  Measures  shall  hold  office  as  Assessor,  President  of  the 
Board  of  Public  Service  and  Commissioner  of  Weights  and 
Measures,  respectively ;  and  all  other  present  incumbents  of 
elective  offices  made  appointive  shall  hold  such  appointive 
offices.  Each  such  present  city  officer  shall  continue  in  the 
office  above  provided  for  him  to  hold  until  the  end  of  the  term 
for  which  he  was  elected  or  appointed  and  until  his  successor 


Charter  of  the  City  of  St.  Louis  75 

qualifies,  with  all  the  powers  and  duties  given  by  this  Charter 
to  such  office. 

Sec.  11.  The  present  jailer  and  all  superintendents  of  insti- 
tutions and  the  superintendent  of  fire  and  police  telegraph, 
shall  continue  in  office  subordinate  to  the  head  of  the  appro- 
priate division  and  subject  to  the  provisions  of  this  Charter. 

Sec.  12.  The  present  City  Surveyors  shall  continue  in  office 
until  the  end  of  the  terms  for  which  they  were  respectively 
appointed. 

Sec.  13.  The  office  of  City  Auditor,  as  it  at  present  exists, 
is  abolished,  but  the  present  City  Auditor  shall  continue  in 
office  until  the  end  of  the  term  for  which  he  was  elected.  In 
the  meantime  he  and  the  deputies  and  clerks  under  him  shall 
be  part  of  the  Comptroller's  office  and  under  the  control  of 
the  Comptroller. 

Sec.  14.  The  City  Attorneys'  offices  as  such  are  abolished, 
but  until  the  Law  Department  is  organized  in  accordance  with 
this  Charter  the  City  Counselor's  office  and  the  City  Attorneys' 
offices  shall  constitute  the  Law  Department  and  be  under  the 
control  of  the  City  Counselor. 

Sec.  15.  All  persons  now  occupying  positions  which  are 
created  solely  by  ordinance  not  inconsistent  with  this  Charter 
and  which  are  not  exempted  from  the  efficiency  provisions  of 
this  Charter,  including  those  mentioned  in  Sec.  9  of  Article 
XVIII,  and  all  persons  occupying  positions  which  are  so  cre- 
ated and  which  are  exempted  from  said  efficiency  provisions 
by  subdivisions  d  and  f  of  Sec.  3  of  Article  XVIII,  shall  con- 
tinue in  such  positions,  each  in  the  appropriate  branch  of  the 
city  government  and  subordinate  to  the  proper  head  officer. 
Where  transfers  of  duties  are  effected  by  this  Charter  the 
Mayor  may  transfer  any  of  said  officers  and  employes  to  con- 
form thereto.  Tenure  of  office  or  employment  under  this  sec- 
tion shall  be  subject  to  this  Charter  and  the  ordinances  of  tiie 
City. 

Sec.  16.  All  present  boards,  commissions  and  officers  cre- 
ated by  Charter  or  ordinance  and  not  provided  for  or  author- 
ized or  expressly  continued  by  this  Charter,  arc  hereby  abol- 
ished, iave  only  the  City  Plan  Commission,  Board  of  Engl- 


76  Charter  oi'  the  City  of  St.  Louis 

neers  and  Board  of  Examiners  of  Plumbers,  which  said  com- 
mission and  boards  until  abolished  by  ordinance  shall  here- 
after be  appointed  by  and  under  the  control  of  the  Board  of 
Public  Service. 

Sec.  17.  The  Mayor  may,  and  on  the  written  advice  of  the 
City  Counselor  shall,  require  any  renewal  or  substitution  of 
the  official  bond  or  security  of  any  present  officer  or  employe 
as  a  condition  precedent  to  such  officer  or  employe  continuing 
in  office;  and  any  officer  or  employe  failing  to  comply  with 
any  such  requirement  within  fifteen  days  after  being  notified 
thereof  shall  thereby  forfeit  his  office.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  City  Counselor  forthwith  on  this  Charter  being  adopted 
to  examine  all  official  bonds  and  securities  and  advise  the 
Mayor  whether  on  account  of  any  changes  effected  by  this 
Charter  it  will  be  necessary  to  require  such  bond  or  security 
to  be  renewed  or  substituted. 

Sec.  18.  Every  present  city  officer  or  employe  who,  if  ap- 
pointed or  elected,  would  be  required  by  this  Charter  to  take 
an  official  oath,  shall  take,  subscribe  and  file  such  oath  as  pro- 
vided in  this  Charter. 


INDEX 

(The   Numbers   Refer  to  Pages.) 

Pat;p 

Abatement,  see  Xiiisances 29 

Accounts 

Of  Public  Utilities 28 

Special  Audits 18 

Payment  of  Claims 34 

Warrants  issued  by   Comptroller 33 

Alleys,  see  Streets. 

Amusements  and  Entertainments 

Supervision   of 30 

Advertisements   for   supplies 40 

Aldermen,  see  Board  of  Aldermen 

Amendments  to  Charter  by  Initiative 12-13 

Appointments 19 

See    Mayor 17 

Appropriations 

Board  of  Estimate  and  .Apportionment 41 

Assessment  Bonds 68 

Interest  on '68 

For  local  improvements 69 

Assessments,  Special 

Streets   61 

Sewers   62 

Sidewalks    61 

Parkways    61 

Method  of  assessing 61 

Preliminary  resolution 59 

When  payable 65 

On  lands  not  subject  to  assessment 61 

City's   portion   of  cost 61-62 

Division  into  installments 65 

Supplementary  assessments  and  rebates 64 

Removing  snow  and  ice 70 

Assessor 35 

Appointed   by   Mayor 19 

Qualifications  35 

Salary  35 

Oath   35 

Bond  35 

Deputies    35 

-Appoints  Peputy  .Assessors 35 

Board  of  Equalization ^ 

Audit  of  City  Records 18 

Auditor    75 

Ballots 

In  recall   cl^tions 7 

In  initiative' and  referendum  elections 14 

Board  of  Aldermen 

Clerk — Duties   in 

Initiative  petitions 13 

Referendum   petitions .,. 1 5 

Qualifications  7 


ii  INDEX 

Page 

Salary  8 

Numl)er   7 

Elected    when 4 

To  fix  salaries .' 20 

Ward  election   when  Constitution   permits 4 

May  establish   divisions 70 

Wards — Division    into    and    redivision 4 

Vacancies — How   filled 8 

•  Meetings  to  be  public 9 

Rules  and  Journal 8 

President  8 

Vice-President 8 

Clerk  and  other  employes 8 

Judge  of  qualifications  of  members 8 

Ordinance    enactment 9 

Emergency   measures 11 

Appropriation    ordinances 12 

Certify  ordinance  establishing  tax  rates 41 

Committee    report 9 

Divide  city  into  judicial  districts 24 

Ineligible    to   other   office    during   term 21 

Limitation  on  appropriations 12 

Action  on  budget 41 

Investigation  by ^ 8 

Ordinances   filed ; 11 

Action  on  initiative    petitions 13 

Action  on  referendum  petitions , 15 

Subject  to  recall 5 

Term 4 

Change  of  residence 8 

Forfeiture   of  office - 8 

Expulsion    8 

Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment 41 

Budget  submitted  to  Board  of  Aldermen 41 

Hearing  to  citizens 41 

Action  by  Board  of  Aldermen.. 41 

Unexpended  balances 42 

May  recommend  transfer  of  funds 42 

Board  of  Parole  and  Probation 33 

Board  of  Standardization 39 

Board  of  Public  Service 25 

President  27 

Streets    and    Sewers 28 

Public   Utilities 21 

Public   Welfare 29 

Public  Safety 31 

Rules   and   regulations 25 

Transfer  of  employes .- 27 

Board  of  Children's  Guardians ZZ 

Board  of  Election  Commissioners :  71 

Board  of  Equalization  36 

Meets   ...: : - 37 

Qualifications  - - 36 

Compensation  „ „„.,.,,„..,..„„,............,......, ,„„.;:««... 36 


INDEX  iii 

Page 
Bonds 

Of  city  officials 20 

/          Kept  by  Register 22 

Premiums   paid   by  city _ 20 

Authority  to  issue 42 

Purposes  for  which  city  may  issue 42 

Based  on  public  utilities 42 

Local  improvements 68 

Books,  open  to  inspection 71 

Bridges,  under  street  division 28 

Budget,  see  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment. 
Building  and  Inspection 

Commissioner    of 32 

Correction 

Commissioner    of 31 

Chief  of  Police 31 

City   Art    Museum 33 

City  Counselor,  see  Law  Department 23 

City   Marshal 23 

City    Courts 24 

Claims  against  city,  payment  of 34 

City  (present)   employes  not  subject  to  efficiency  provisions 48 

Civil  Service,  see   Efficiency  Board. 

Clerk  of  Board  of  Aldermen,  see  Board  of  Aldermen. 

Collector   38 

Appointed  by  Mayor 19 

Qualifications  3S. 

Salary  3S 

Bond  38 

Comptroller 

Qualifications    33 

Term  4 

Forfeiture   of   office 33 

Member  Board  of  Estimate    and    Apportionment 41 

Member   Board  of  Standardization 39 

Bond  33 

Salary  33 

Appoints    deputies 33 

Rights  in  Board  of  Aldermen 34 

Transfer  employes 34 

Approves    bonds 70 

Supervision   of  department  of   finance. 33 

Complaint   Board 33 

Condemnation   52 

Commissioners  appointed  by  court 53 

Notice  to  be  served S3 

Exceptions    55 

Waive  trial  by  jury 53 

Ordinances  appropriating  damages 55 

Contracts 71 

Officers  and  employes  not  interested  in 21 

Signed   by _.« 71 

Certification  of  Comptroller  required 71 

Mayor  shall  see  contracts  are  performed 17 

Public  improvements  by  contract  or  direct  labor _...  6( 


iv  1  N  D  K  X 

PaRC 

Damages,  Assossniont  of  in  condemiiHtinn  54 

Departments 

Streets   and   Sewers 28 

Public    Utilities 27 

Public    Welfare 29 

Public  Safety 29 

Finance    33 

Law 23 

Divisions  (see  Health,  Hospitals,  Parks  and  Recreation,  Correc- 
tion,  Research  and   Publicity,  Legal  Aid,  Municipal  Lodg- 
ing House,  Employment,  Police,  Excise,  Fire  and  Fire  Preven- 
tion, Weights  and  Measures,  Building  and  Inspection.) 

May  be  changed  by  Board  of  Aldermen 70 

Directors 

Streets  and  Sewers 28 

Public   Utilities 27 

Public   Welfare 29 

Public  Safety 31 

Salaries  fixed  by  Board  of  Aldermen 20 

Eight-hour  day 72 

Elections 

When 4 

Notice  of 5 

To  be  provided  for  by  Board  of  Aldermen  when  statutes 

permit 5 

Regular   4 

Special,  provision  for  by  Election   Commissioners 5 

Recall  7 

Initiative   13 

Referendum   16 

Bonds  43 

Election  commissioners 71 

Emergency  measures 11 

Employment  Bureau 31 

Epidemics 30 

Estimate  and  Apportionment,  see  Board  of 41 

Excise  Commissioner 31 

Examinations  by  Efficiency  Board 46-47 

Expenditures 

Pursuant  to  appropriation  by  Board  of  Aldermen 12 

Supervision  by  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment 12 

Efficiency  Board 45 

Appointed   by   Mayor 45 

Qualifications  45 

Vacancies  therein 45 

Rules  and  regulations  of 46 

Choose  own  employes  and  fix  their  salaries 45 

Eligible    list 46 

Temporary    employment 47 

Classification  of  service 46 

Unskilled  Labor  47 

Examinations  47 

Appointments _ 47 

Promotions — 48 


INDEX  V 

Page 

Discharge    *7 

Present  city  employes  not  subject  to 48 

Public  utility  employes,  no  examination  for 48 

Payrolls   certified 48 

Investigations    48 

Political  beliefs •  48 

Political  activity 48 

Keep    record - 47 

Violations   and   penalties 48 

Employes,  present  city,  not  subject  to  efficiency  provisions 48 

Finance  Department 

Sec  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment,  Comptroller, 
Assessor,  Collector,  Treasurer,  Supply  Commissioner, 
Bonds. 

Fire  and  Police  Telegraph 32 

Fines  1 1 

Fire  and  Fire  Prevention 

Commissioner    of 31 

Police  powers  at   fires 32 

Fire  marshal 32 

Fiscal  year „ 42 

Forester,  city 31 

Franchises 49 

Not  to  be  passed  as  emergency  measure 11 

City  may  take  over  property 49 

Limitation  to  fifty  years 49 

Board  of  Aldermen  may  impose  tax  on  street  railways 5U 

Not  assignable  without  consent  of  city 50 

No  exclusive   grant 49 

Charges  regulated  by  Board  of  Aldermen 50 

Street  railways  to  keep  street  in  repair 50 

Free  Employm^t  Bureau 31 

Grade  crossings,  power  to  abolisli 3 

Harbors,  city  may  provide  and  maintain 2 

Health  Commissioner 29 

May    abate   nuisances - 29 

Avoid  epidemics -^ 30 

Highways,  see  streets 28 

Hospital  Commissioner 30 

Hours  of  labor 72 

Improvement  Bonds  and  Funds 68 

Initiative  petitions 

Signatures  13 

Percentage    required 13 

Affidavit   of   circulator 6 

Filing  of  petition 6 

Supplementary    petitions 6 

Certification   of  sufficiency 13 

Adtion  of  Board   of  Aldermen 13 

Election,    when 13 

Ballots,  form  of - 14 

Committee    of   petitioners 13 

Publication  of   arguments 17 

Inspection  of  buildings 32 


vi  INDEX. 

Page 

Investigation  by 

Board  of  Aldermen 9 

Mayor 18 

Efficiency  Board 48 

Director  Public  Utilities 27 

Labor,  Hours  of 72 

Law   Department...-. 23 

City  Counselor 23 

Qualifications  23 

Mayor  appoints  Counselor 19 

Approves  bonds,  as  to  form 23 

Salary  23 

Associate  City  Counselors.- 23 

Legal  aid  31 

License  Taxes _ 51 

Lodging  House,  Municipal 31 

MuUanphy  Board 32 

Markets,  in  charge  of  Health  Commissioner 30 

Marshal  23 

Mayor 17 

Member  Board  of  Estimate  and  Apportionment 41 

Veto   10 

Signing  of  ordinances 10 

Term  4 

Qualifications  18 

Salary  17 

Appoints    19 

Power  to  appoint  and  remove 17 

Pov^rers   and    duties 17 

Investigation  by 18 

Recall  of 5 

Removal  of  by  Board  of  Aldermen 18 

Forfeiture   of  office - 18 

Succession  to 18 

Absence  18 

Right  in  Board  of  Aldermen 17 

Require  audit 18 

May  remit   fines - 17 

May  suspend  elective  officers 21 

Epidemics,   may  prevent 30 

MuUanphy  Board ~ 32 

Municipal  ownership 

City  may  own,  acquire,  purchase,  etc.,  public  utilities 1 

See  also  Department  of  Public  Utilities 27 

Morgue    30 

Name   - 1 

Newspaper,  Board  of  Aldermen  may  establish 40 

Non-partisan  nominations 5 

Notices,  special  elections 5 

Condemnation  53 

Marshal  execute 23 

To  officer  whose  recall  is  sought 6 

Nuisances   - 29 

Oath  of  office 19 

Office,  definition  of 72 


INDEX 


Page 

Officers 19 

Residence    19 

Salaries  and  fees 20 

Official    bond 20 

Continuance   of  present   officers 74 

Interest  in  contracts  and  supplies 21 

Notice  of  recall  petition 6 

When  not  subject  to  recall 7 

Ordinances — 

Majority  of  votes  necessary  for  enactment 10 

Enacting?  clause 9 

Reading:  of  If) 

Amending  of  g 

Action  by  committees  in  what  time 9 

When    takes    effect 1 1 

Appropriation  and  tax  rate  bills 41 

Approval  and  veto  of 10 

Filed    with    Register 1 1 

Emergency  measure,  what  constitutes 11 

Appropriation  ordinance 12 

Ordinances  may  be   submitted  by  initiative 12 

Subject  to  referendum 14 

Conflicting    17 

Ratification    of  existing 72 

Revision  of  1 1 

Parole  and  Probation,  Board  of 33 

Parks    and    Recreation,    Commissioner   of 3C 

Parkways,   see    Article   XXII 59 

Penalties  1 1 

Petitions — 

See    initiative,    referendum,    recall. 
Process,  power  to  issue. 

Board  of   Equalization 37 

Public    Utilities 27 

Board  of  Aldermen 9 

Efficiency    Board    48 

Plat  of  Subdivision,  must  be  recorded 76 

Police    Commissioner ,^1 

Chief  of  Police 31 

Police  power  at  fires,  also  with  Fire  Commissioner 32 

Take  over  functions  of  Marshal 23 

Political  belief,  no  discrimination  because  of 48 

Powers  of  City 1 

Preferential  ballot  5 

President  Board  of  Aldermen,  elected,  etc 8 

Elected    4 

Member  of  Board  of  Estimate  and   Apportionment  41 

Succession  to 8 

Proclamation  by  Mayor,  Epidemics 30 

Proportional  representation  5 

Public    Safety,   Department   of 31 

Sec    Police,    Excise,    Eire    and    Fire    Prevention.    Weights 
and   Measures,    Building  and   Inspection. 


viii  INDEX 

Page 

Public  Utilities,  Department  of —  , 

Director  27 

City   may    own,    operate,    etc 1 

Director   may   investigate 27 

Accounts  • 28 

Public  Welfare,  Department  of 29 

See  Division  of  Health,  Hospitals,  Parks  and  Recreation, 
Correction,  Research  and  Publicity,  Legal  Aid,  Muni- 
cipal  Lodging  House,  Employment. 

Public    Welfare    Boards 32 

Publications — 

Advertising 40 

Rules   of  Efficiency  Board 47 

Board  of  Equalization  to  be  in  session 36 

Ordinances  published 11 

Arguments  under  initiative,  referendum,  recall 17 

Record  of  Board  of  Public  Service 25 

Notice  of  special  elections 5 

Report  of  B.  P.  S.  on  franchises 50 

Permits — 

Granted  by  Board  of  Public  Service 26 

Never  to  be  considered  as  franchises 26 

Absolute    power    of    revocation 26 

Printing,  City — 

City  maj'  do  all 40 

Recall- 
Special    elections 5 

Form  of  ballot 7 

Incumbent's  office  vacant  when 7 

Original   petitions 6 

Supplementary  petitions   6 

Signatures    6 

Percentage    required 6 

Affidavit  of  circulator 6 

Filing  of  6 

Publication  of  arguments 17 

Notification    to   officer 6 

Forbidden  when 7 

Recreation,  Parks  and;   Commissioner  of 30 

Rules  and  Regulations,  Health 29 

Complaint   Board  33 

Efficiency  Board 46 

Recorder  of  Deeds,  abstracts  to  Assessor 38 

Referendum   14 

Percentages   14 

Conflicting  ordinances  17 

Petitions     14 

Supplementary    petitions 15 

Signatures 16 

Sufficiency^  15 

Reconsideration  of  ordinance 15 

Publication  of  arguments 17 

Elections  16 


I  N  D  E  X  ix 

Page 

Regular    Municipal    Elections 4 

Register    22 

Reports  of  Departments  made  by  Directors 21 

Made  by  B.  P.  S 25 

Efficiency  Board 47 

Made  by  Comptroller 34 

Research  and  Publicity 31 

Revision    of   Assessments    by   Board    of    Equalization.: .  36 

Sale  of  City  Real  Estate  forbidden " 12 

Salaries — 

President  Board  of  Aldermen 8 

Board  of  Aldermen 8 

Mayor    17 

Comptroller  .' 3^ 

Assessor 35 

Collector    38 

Treasurer    39 

Supply    Commissioner 39 

City    Counselor    23 

Marshal 23 

City    Court    Judges 24 

Clerk    Police    Courts 24 

Directors  2h 

Employes — Fixed    by    Board    of    Aldermen 20 

Construed  to  mean  not  less  than 20 

Payable  monthly 20 

Sanitary    Inspection    by    Police 29 

Seal— Kept  by  Register 22 

Sewers    (see    Streets) 28 

Sidewalks — 

Construction   and   repair 61 

Signatures — 

(see    Initiative.    Referendum,   Recall) 

Sinking   Fund   44 

Disbursements  on   account   Sinking   Fund   approved    by.  .  45 

Special  Tax  Bills 65 

Divided  into  installments 65 

Streets- 
Department  of  Streets   and   Sewers 28 

Repair  and  Maintenance 28 

Platting  of  26 

Dedication    of   26 

Subdivisions,   Plats  of — 

May  not  be  recorded  when 26 

Spuply  Commissioner 39 

Supply  Commissioner — 

Appointed   by    Mayor 1*^ 

Salary  39 

Bond  39 

Charge  of  City  printing ™ 40 

Transfer   of  funds 42 

Tax,  City  has  power  to ' ~ 1 


X  INDEX 

Page 

Treasurer    39 

Qualifications  39 

Appointed  by   Mayor 19 

Bond    39 

Salary    39 

Veto,  Mayor  10 

Vice-President,  Board  of  Aldermen 8 

Vital    Statistics 30 

Wards,  Boundaries  4 

Division  and   re-division 4 

Waste,  Disposal  of 28 

Water  Commissioner  — 28 

Water  rates,  assessed  by  Water  Commissioner 28 

Weights  and  Measures 32 

Wharves 28 

Zoological  Park  33 


Board  ^  1^  reeholders 

CITY  OF  ST 

.  LOUIS 

Suite  329  Municipal  ( 

Courts  Building 

Louis  P.  Aloe 

Jesse  McDonald 

Thomas    J.  Dalton 

Samuel  Rosenfeld 

Ed\rard  Flad 

Thomas  J.  Rowe 

Frederick  D.  Gardner 

Charles  W.  Rutledge 

Charles  Hertenstein 

Selden  P.  Spencer 

Frederick  N.  Jiidson 

Clinton  E.  Udell 

Charles  Langeman 

Henry  S.  Caulfield, 

Wilbur  B.  Jones, 

Counsel 

Secretary 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


Form  L-9-15m-7,'32 


UNIVERSITY  of  CALIFORNIA 


,0S  ANGELES 
■  ''--ARY 


,'  I'-s-isa 


^^      St.  Louis. 

T9I^    

.Proposed 

charter  for 
the  city  of  ^ 
St. [Louis, 


,lilii,^S".'?,"^.'i'0'^*.L  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA    001  176  990    8 


